UGANDA, Nakawa | Real Muloodi News | In a turn of events on New Year’s Day, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Nakawa Division, Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha, stepped in to halt a scheduled land eviction that had previously led to the partial demolition of a family’s house on Christmas Day in 2022.
The family faced a second attempt at eviction by police officers on January 1, but the timely intervention of Mr Kamugisha prevented the demolition from proceeding.
The family had experienced a traumatic eviction attempt on Christmas Day the previous year, where suspects partially demolished their house before fleeing the scene.
On January 1, they faced another raid, but the swift intervention of the Resident City Commissioner spared them from further distress.
Sheikh Kassim Kamugisha asserted that the police officers involved were acting illegally, as they lacked the status of bailiffs, and the case regarding the house’s ownership was still pending in court.
Expressing concern over the irregularities in the eviction attempt, Mr Kamugisha emphasised that the matter was sub judice and police involvement was inappropriate.
He called for an investigation into the conduct of the police officers, highlighting the need for adherence to legal procedures.
Moreover, he questioned the timing of the eviction on a public holiday, stressing the importance of maintaining due process.
Mr Kamugisha voiced his apprehension about the potential erosion of public confidence in the police force if such irregularities persisted.
He urged the police leadership to scrutinise their officers’ actions, emphasising the need for accountability to prevent a loss of trust from the Ugandan public.
The Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Ms Judith Nabakooba, had earlier issued directives on December 22, 2022, prohibiting any eviction orders or executions during the festive season.
Courts had also echoed similar sentiments. The property in question, located in Kigoowa, Nakawa Division in Kampala City, was part of the estate of the late Johnson Orech, triggering ownership disputes that commenced after Orech’s demise in 1995.
Allegations surrounding the property’s ownership suggested that the late Orech had willed it to be administered by his widow, Lucy Mary Orech.
However, the property remained under the management of her sister, who purportedly sold it. Legal battles ensued, with the deceased’s children petitioning the High Court, losing their case, and subsequently appealing to the Court of Appeal, where a decision is pending.
As the situation unfolded on Monday at the late Orech’s estate, police, accompanied by private security guards, sought to enforce the eviction.
Mr Kamugisha’s intervention highlighted the need for a thorough examination of police actions, emphasising the significance of legal procedures and the potential consequences of unchecked irregularities in the eviction process.
In response, the police spokesman, Mr Fred Enanga, cited adherence to court orders and judgments, pledging to consult the police’s legal affairs team for further guidance on the matter.
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