UGANDA, Kyambogo | Real Muloodi News | Over the years, Kyambogo University land has been at the centre of a dispute involving several interested parties, including Kampala District Land Board, Ministry of Education, and Buganda Kingdom acting on behalf of the estate administrators of the late Christopher Kisosonkole, who was a grandfather to Kabaka.
However, the fate of squatters on the contested land in question was thrown into jeopardy on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, after Mengo disowned any relations.
About 4,000 squatters who settle on the land say the Buganda Kingdom owns the land, referred to in official documents as “Kyambogo Link land”.
However, Christopher Bwanika, the Buganda Kingdom Attorney General, begs to differ.
“You cannot just settle on the land without permission from the owner. If you settled here with your grandparents, who also settled here illegally, the laws cannot be on your side. The Kabaka did not settle anyone on this land as you have claimed because he does not own the land at lower Kyambogo.” Christopher said in a statement.
“The only land the kingdom owns is in upper Kyambogo, near the (Banda) palace, which issues are being resolved between the two institutions,” he added.
However, the unhappy and angry residents hurled insults at officials from Kyambogo University, arguing they inherited the land from their forefathers, who told them the land belonged to the Buganda Kingdom.
The residents argue they are bona fide occupants.
According to Section 29(2)a of the 1998 Land Act, as amended, a bona fide occupant “means a person who before the coming into force of the (1995) Constitution had occupied and utilised or developed any land unchallenged by the registered owner or agent of the registered owner for twelve years or more…”
Mr Richard Kakarugaya, the chairperson of K Zone 6 village, established that he grew up from there and has now given birth to nine children in the same place. He said all along; they knew that this land belonged to Buganda Kingdom and not Kyambogo University. He now worries that if the kingdom has disowned it, he does not know what remains of them.
However, during a site-evaluation meeting convened by the head of State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Col Edith Nakalema, in the company of the Ministry of Lands, Kyambogo University, Buganda Kingdom, Uganda Land Commission, and Buganda Land Board officials, she said the settlers on the 137-acre piece of land failed to provide documentary proof of ownership.
Col Nakalema further showed that upon their investigations, commissioned by the Minister of Education, Ms Janet Museveni, and the president, Kampala District Land Board (KDLB) does not have any claim on the land.
She also said the Ministry of Lands, which the government directed to survey the land and reopen its boundaries, confirmed that the land belongs to the educational institution and not other claimants.
”… the surveys were based on the 1962 official documents,” asserted Mr Ogaro Ebunyu, the commissioner for surveyors and mapping.
Mr Ebunyu further added that Kyambogo land starts from Naalya Road, towards Kinawataka Valley up to southern parts of the university, and confirmed that some parts of the land at upper Kyambogo near Banda Palace, which the university had claimed ownership, belonged to Buganda Kingdom.
However, following the day’s interface, Col Nakalema tasked the residents to identify two representatives from each of the six villages or zones for a meeting that would take place at her office this week.
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