(Ecofin Agency) - Uganda’s government announced its intention to amend land act to make it easier for the State to take over private lands for infrastructures and other development projects in the country.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Betty Amongi said the amendment will be soon brought to parliament. The amendment which simplifies expropriation procedures for public use should help accelerate the construction of infrastructures such as roads and other major projects.

However, though the government’s move might seems profitable to the nation, parliamentarians, who are concerned about it, condemned it saying it is suspect and could fuel land grabbing. Explaining that it is trying to dissipate these concerns, the government told website NTV that the land act in its actual form, allows negotiation and compensation with land owners before the project takes off, slows down government programmes.

Souha Touré