UNAA Convention: Attorney Deo Kalikumutima advised Ugandans in the Diaspora to use professionals in all their land acquisitions instead of relatives.
At the 34th Annual UNAA Convention & Trade Expo that took place on 4th September 2022 in San Francisco, California, Attorney Deo Kalikumutima cautioned Ugandans in the diaspora against using relatives during their land transactions in Uganda and instead advised them to use registered professionals to carry out due diligence on their behalf before buying property or land. The caution against using relatives was premised on that fact that while registered professionals are regulated by their respective bodies like Uganda Law Society and Uganda Law Council which regulates lawyers, their relatives are not regulated by any person or body which leaves them with no fallback position if they are duped in land transactions.
In his own words, Attorney Deo Kalikumutima while speaking at the UNAA convention noted that many of the Ugandans in the diaspora transact through their relatives leaving them with no fallback position incase issues arises. He clarified that he has no problem with them transacting using their relatives, but noted that if they transacted through a lawyer and they mismanaged their work, they would have a fallback position because they are regulated by Uganda Law society and have insurance.
Attorney Deo Kalikumutima noted that 9 out of 10 land cases arise out of fraud and therefore equipping people with the right information is one way to check on land illegalities.Attorney Deo Kalikumutima emphasized awareness because there is a lot of misinformation in Uganda about land acquisition. He appealed to Ugandans in the diaspora to try the formula of due diligence, engaging professionals, compliance and taking possession in regard to acquisition of property and land because it surely works.
He further cautioned the participants to always be on the look out and occupy every property they buy in Uganda. On avoiding land fraud and irregularities, he challenged Ugandans in the diaspora to make necessary inquires through professionals before they acquire any property, transfer properties into their names immediately after buying and to go with professionals like structural engineers not just a lawyer to assess the property they are going to buy.
Attorney Deo Kalikumutima equated the UNAA Community to a bride that Government must court carefully.In his own words, he noted that where he comes from, when you have a beautiful bride, you court them careful. He therefore emphasized that UNAA is a bride that must be courted carefully because many of them are US citizens who are investing where they currently are yet we want them to invest back home. The Ugandan government must court them carefully lest they are “stolen”.
The 2022 UNAA convention theme was “Recovery Beyond the Pandemic: Embracing New Opportunities for a Greater Diaspora”. The theme was addressed through many unique and innovative ways, and the presenters shared their knowledge, experiences, and expertise. Founded in 1988, UNAA is the oldest and largest Ugandan diaspora organization. It has been called the most influential, powerful and well-organized, largest non-political formal association of Ugandans in the Diaspora. It aims to promote the social, cultural and economic development of the Ugandan Community in North America and beyond. The Ugandan Community in North America numbers over 120,000 individuals
Attorney Deo Kalikumutima, who was one of the guest speakers at the UNAA Convention is the Chief Executive Partner of Kalikumutima and Co. Advocates, he advises multinational corporations on commercial transactions, corporate law and business licensing. Deo has specialty in financial institutions’ law, international commercial transactions, corporate governance, as well as mergers and acquisitions. His other areas of practice include banking and finance, capital markets and securities law, local and International arbitration, litigation and oil and gas law. Deo holds postgraduate qualifications in Tax advisory and Tax planning, all of which are critical for sustainable business licensing. He is as well a graduate of LLB Hons (UCU), Dip. L.P (LDC) and PODITRA-Tax.