UGANDA, Mbale | Real Muloodi News | Concerns over land grabbing in Mbale City have intensified following a directive ordering law enforcement officers to vacate their offices near the city’s Grade One Magistrate’s Court.
Residents and stakeholders fear the decision could facilitate the illegal takeover of prime municipal land.
On January 16, former Town Clerk Ambrose Ocheng issued a letter directing enforcement officers to leave their offices at Mbale Municipal Court and relocate to their respective division headquarters. The order was based on a city council resolution that called for the closure of enforcement offices at the court.
The sudden move has raised suspicions among city leaders and the public, with some alleging it could be linked to land grabbing in Mbale City.
Robert Kisesi, the Northern City Division Speaker, questioned the directive’s lack of transparency. He and other local leaders suspect that the decision could be a pretext for handing over the land to private developers.
“We need a clear explanation from the authorities. Without transparency, there is a risk that this land could be grabbed,” Kisesi said.
Abdallah Magambo, the Deputy Speaker of Mbale City, defended the council’s decision, stating that the relocation was intended to improve service delivery and monitoring. He added that the judiciary had requested additional space for court expansion and assured the public that the land was secure.
“The land is secure unless there is information we are not aware of as the council,” Magambo said. “As far as I know, there is no plan for land grabbing.”
Despite these reassurances, scepticism remains. Some local leaders are demanding further clarification to ensure the land remains under public control.
In a separate incident, concerns over land grabbing in Mbale City have also surfaced at North Road Primary School. A portion of the school’s land has been fenced off with chain link fencing, raising fears that private developers may be planning to take over the property.
Community leaders and education officials argue that the land is meant for the school’s expansion and should not be sold or transferred.
“This school has been here for decades, and its land is for the benefit of future generations. We must ensure it is protected,” a local leader said.
The current controversies follow past incidents where public land in Mbale Municipality was allegedly transferred to private entities under questionable circumstances. In one case, part of the Mbale Municipal Court land was allegedly allocated to private developers by city council officials.
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