UGANDA, Wakiso | Real Muloodi News | Approximately 35 kilometres southwest of Kampala, the three villages of Busamba, Kinyika-Gayaza, and Ngondwe-Kanziro in Namayumba Sub-county, Wakiso District, face an impending crisis as more than 5,000 residents live under the looming threat of eviction.
The source of the turmoil in the three Wakiso villages stems from a contested claim over a 1,044-acre expanse of land on Busiro Block 53, with land dealer Ms Berna Nakato asserting her rights to over 200 acres, leaving the locals, known as bibanja holders, uncertain about the fate of their homes.
The origins of the dispute trace back to December 2022 when Ms. Nakato was hired to survey the land by some members of the late Gabudyeri Lubajja’s family.
The agreement included Ms Nakato receiving 150 acres as part of her payment, with an additional 50 acres purchased from the family.
Now, the land is being subdivided, and the bibanja holders find their third-party rights jeopardised, highlighting the pervasive issue of illegal evictions in central Uganda.
The family dispute within the Lubajja lineage has further complicated the situation, with grandchildren engaging in a legal battle.
Josephine Mpamulungi, Teddy Namusoke, and Mathias Mulumba on one side and Richard Semitala and Eustarous Ssegantebuka on the other.
The Mpamulungi faction sued their relatives in December 2022, alleging fraudulent acquisition of letters of administration. They later sought to include Ms Nakato as a respondent in the case.
The plight of the bibanja holders has not gone unnoticed, drawing the attention of village leadership, the district representative of the President, the police, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU).
However, residents claim that officials have not been helpful and may have taken sides, as evidenced by a biased report from SHACU in October 2022.
The report acknowledged Ms Nakato’s claim to 200 acres while calling for tenant protection.
Residents like Mr. Cosmas Kizito express frustration, asserting that the SHACU report legitimised Ms. Nakato’s actions, leading to the destruction of gardens and forced evictions.
The situation has escalated, with residents seeking the President’s intervention.
In an interview, Ms Nakato defended her actions, claiming a legitimate agreement with affected locals and asserting that they have been compensated for lost crops.
Consent agreements, allegedly signed by affected persons, were presented as evidence of the negotiated settlement.
However, the compensation primarily addresses crops, raising questions about the bibanja holders’ long-term claims.
The conflict dates back to 2010 when Semitala, Ssegantebuka, and the late Regina Nambolanyi reportedly processed letters of administration without consulting other family members.
Matters escalated in 2020 after Nambolanyi’s death, leading to attempts to sell the land. Ms. Nakato entered the scene to expedite the removal of caveats, carving out land for her services.
The intervention of Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba in December 2022 resulted in 34 caveats being placed on the contested land, temporarily halting activities.
However, Ms. Nakato continued her efforts, prompting another meeting in May 2023 where Minister Nabakooba ordered a stop to all activities, directed SHACU to investigate, and promised mediation.
Controversies surrounding the SHACU report, which cleared Ms Nakato’s stay on the land, persist. Some residents argue that the investigation was one-sided, relying on titles from one faction of the Lubajja family.
SHACU spokesperson Ms Mariam Natasha Oduka defended the report, stating that they used the title provided by the Semitala-led faction due to the Mpamulungi faction’s failure to produce theirs.
The complexity of the situation, legal battles, and conflicting claims highlight the urgent need for a fair and thorough resolution to prevent the impending eviction of thousands in these three Wakiso villages.
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