The Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters has been granted six more months by President Yoweri Museveni.
The Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire Commission had been given six months which expired on November 9.
A statement by the Commission's Lead Counsel, Ebert Byenkya, quotes Justice Bamugemereire as saying the instrument of extension was received a couple of days ago."
"It is a welcome development because it is an endorsement of the work of the Commission by the appointing Authority," reads the statement.
The President according to a notice amending Legal Notice No. 2 of 2017 dated November 5, said the extension is deemed to have come into force on November 10, 2017. He said the Commission shall execute its mandate within six months from the date of publication of the notice.
"The Commission shall submit the final report of its findings and recommendations to the President within six months from the date of publication of notice."
The Commission has since early May been conducting public hearings in and outside Kampala. It has unearthed a number of wrongful land evictions as well land grabs perpetuated by surveyors, lands ministry officials and Uganda Land Commission. Some of the land grabs have been orchestrated by military officers.
Other members include Mary Odupa Ochan, Dr Robert Sebunya, Joyce Habasa, Dr Rose Nakayi, Hon Fred Ruhindi, George Bagonza Tinkamanyire, Olive Kazzarwe Mukwaya, Dr Douglas Singiza and John Bosco Rujagaata.
Some of the issues the commission is probing into include: the law, processes and procedures by which land is administered and registered in Uganda, the role and effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) in administering public land and land fund, and the management of wetlands and forest reserves.
It is also probing into the role of traditional, cultural and religious institutions who own large tracts of land with occupants.
The Commission has also been assessing the legal and policy framework on government land acquisition, the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms available to persons involved in land disputes and any other matter connected with or incidental to land matters.
