A section of Legislators representing Soroti city from the National Assembly have confirmed that Parliament has picked interest in the continuous outcry of public land grabbing in Soroti City.
Joan Alobo the Soroti City Woman MP and Jonathan Ebwalu the Soroti City West Division Mp have in regards to this called for a fact finding meeting with the public set for October 2nd 2023.
A public notice seen by this website states, ”the Woman Mp Soroti City the Hon. Joan Acom Alobo and Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu the Soroti City West division Mp invites the city Land Land committee and all area land committee members, all leaders and the general community of Soroti to come and participate in a community engagement (Baraza)”.
According to Alobo, the members of the National assembly have picked a lot of interest in the public outcry following several calls from whistle blowers and media reports.
“We are coming for a fact finding and develop a report that parliament can rely on in the matter of public land in Soroti, it is our role as members of Parliament to legislate on issues affecting people, Appropriation, oversight and representation”, she said.
Adding, “The Baraza will also focus on health, poor land management, education, compensation, Road infrastructure, Garbage and general service delivery.
Jonathan Ebwalu the Soroti Weast Division said that the report generated during this engagement shall guide the house while articulating the matters of Soroti.
He said, “Each time we go buy Sugar, salt, soap, oil, beans, posho and other items, we pay taxes, therefore we must get goods and services for the taxes we pay”.
Recently, the Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi during his visit to Soroti on Saturday 16th September 2023 expressed his distress to the public officials who have made land grabbing a usual business.
Magezi made the comments while officiating as chief guest at the MP Ariko’s thanks giving prayers at St. Kizito Technical Institute Madera, Soroti East Division.
Magyezi warned both the district and the city authorities against the unnecessary sale of public land without getting technical guidance from his office. Recently, Soroti city has been news regarding the unlawful sale of public land, causing rift with the community in defense of what their forefathers left for them.
Attention is drawn from a plot opposite the Lions Club premises along the Old Mbale – Road, which was leased to Mr. Samuel Eneku to establish a washing bay during the tenure of the former Town Clerk Mr. Moses Otimong. Soroti City was still a Municipal Council.
The land in question belongs to the community and was earmarked for the establishment of the health center facility. However, the public recently discovered that the city land board has issued the same piece of land to three other institutions who are all claiming ownership.
In October 2022, disagreement ensued in Arapai Town council when the public ganged against the officials of Soroti city land board and the authorities of former Arapai Sub – County for illegally allocating themselves the public land and selling part of it to the well positioned people.
The matter of Arapai land was brought to the attention of the Woman Member of Parliament Soroti City, Joan Alobo Acom who intervened by conducting a dialogue between the fuming public and the members of the city land board led by their Charman Jorem Opian Obicho.