Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the State Minister for Housing has defended the Landlord and Tenant Bill, 2018, saying it seeks to introduce a comprehensive law to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants.
He was presenting justifications of the Lands, Housing and Urban Development for the Bill before the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, which is scrutinizing the bill.
He told the Committee chaired by Kafeero Ssekitoleko that the bill prohibits landlords from discriminating tenants based on their ethnicity, tribe, religion, social, economic, political affiliations or race.
However James Waluswaka, the Bunyole West MP noted that much as the Bill is timely and serves the interest of the tenants, certain clauses are unfair to both tenants and landlords. He thinks a landlord should retain the right to determine who can or cannot rent a business or residential premise.
Richard Othieno Okoth, the West Budama County MP, said the bill will discourage private investment in the housing sector.
In his response, Baryomunsi said the conflicts between landlords and tenants exist and the Bill seeks to outline the rights and duties of each party.
