UGANDA, Mubende | Real Muloodi News | In late July, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, commissioned a four-member team to investigate land disputes in Mubende, Kassanda, and Mityana districts.
For several years, the three districts have had many land disputes. Residents continue to accuse local leaders and the police of exacerbating illegal evictions.
The team has visited the most affected areas of Kiteredde Village, Biwanga Village, and Nakateete Village so far.
In Kiteredde Village in Kiganda Sub-county, Mubende District, locals told the team that the police are brutally disposing them of their ancestral land. Mr Joseph Ssebugenyi, a bibanja holder, said, “they [police] arrest us, fabricate charges against us and sometimes destroy our crops.”
Similarly, Mr Enock Mukiibi, a resident of Biwanga Village in Mubende Municipality, told the team that affluent people are threatening to evict them.
He said, “we have lived on the public land for a long period as sitting tenants, but a few people are now claiming ownership. They are subjecting us to acts of torture, intending to evict us. We are living in fear.”
Furthermore, the residents of Nakateete Village in Kassanda District reported many cases of fraud and fake documentation. Ms Catherine Nankabirwa explained, “they wanted to buy a piece of this Kibanja and duped my son to sign a fake agreement. My son was later arrested for obtaining money by false pretence. Every day, they come and monitor. I am in fear, I need help.”
There are many reports of illegal evictions despite the government’s directive to stop all evictions until the end of the lockdown. Moreover, under mailo land tenure, the law requires a court order before an eviction. The law also requires notice of bonafide tenants in the event an owner sells the property.
Mr Abraham Luwalira, a member of the team commissioned by the Lands Minister and chairperson of Uganda Bibanja Holders Association, has cautioned the police and local leaders to “desist from handling land cases with a bias.”
Call 0 800 100 004 to report cases of illegal Land evictions, incidents of corruption and bribery; delayed land transactions, general poor service delivery and absenteeism within the Lands Ministry.
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