UGANDA, Bunyoro | Real Muloodi News | In a recent land symposium held in Kakumiro, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja pointed fingers at officials from the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, accusing them of exacerbating land disputes in the sub-region.
The symposium that took place on 12th January 2024 was attended by Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, district leaders, and representatives from the Uganda Land Commission and Bunyoro Kingdom and was aimed to address the growing tensions related to land conflicts.
Prime Minister Nabbanja asserted that the kingdom’s actions, particularly regarding the threat of eviction on the land hosting the Kakumiro District headquarters, were impeding progress in the affected areas.
She contended that instances of land eviction, especially in Kakumiro, were infrequent before the government granted land titles to the kingdom.
The entire Kakumiro area is situated on Block 300 Plot 1, registered in the name of the Omukama of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, and Block 294 Plot 19, registered in the name of Pat Omukama Kitehimbwa of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, according to Ms Nabbanja.
She highlighted that the kingdom proceeded to issue leases on Block 300 Plot 1 to individuals, such as Nalweyo, where a 99-year lease was granted, despite the government processing compensation for the kingdom.
Notably, several public institutions, including district headquarters, are located on this land.
During the symposium, Prime Minister Nabbanja raised questions about the government’s course of action in this situation.
She also referred to the period when the Buganda Kingdom held the land titles, stating that there were no evictions during that time. However, she claimed that evictions began after the titles were transferred to Bunyoro Kingdom.
In response to these allegations, Mr Alex Katushabe, the chief administrative secretary of Bunyoro Kingdom, denied issuing a 99-year lease and engaging in other land transactions. He refuted the accusations made by Prime Minister Nabbanja.
To support her claims, Prime Minister Nabbanja presented two letters written by Mr Andrew Byakutaga, the Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, to the Kakumiro Town Council in 2021.
These letters directed the council to refrain from taking possession or engaging in any activities on the disputed land.
Byakutaga, representing the kingdom, acknowledged in the letters that the land allocation was made in error, advising against any activities on the specified land.
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