UGANDA, Masaka | Real Muloodi News | Residents of the Old Kkumbu housing estate in Masaka City find themselves in a quandary over the planned redevelopment of the area, as they claim their appeals to city authorities to allow them, as sitting tenants, to participate in the renewal process have been ignored.
The estate, constructed in 1947, comprises 53 housing units located on Plot 55-56 Old Bukoba Road and Plot 98-104 Forest Road in Kimaanya/Kyabakuza Municipality.
Zaitun Muyoba, a tenant, voiced her concerns, stating that she obtained her tenancy in 2005 from the then-Masaka Municipal Council (now the city council).
However, new individuals claiming to be the rightful owners have inspected her property.
These newcomers, accompanied by surveyors from Masaka City, have altered plot sizes in contravention of the city’s physical planning regulations.
Muyoba asserted that these actions were inconsistent with Section 32(b) of the Physical Planning Act 2010, which prohibits plots under 50 by 100 feet.
Abdul Bukenya, another sitting tenant, described how a group of individuals recently arrived at the estate and began measuring various housing units.
When confronted, the surveyors admitted to owning some plots in the area but did not provide further details.
Tenant concerns extend beyond potential eviction; they also lack clarity regarding the land’s rightful owner, as Buganda Land Board (BLB) also claims ownership.
In 2009, BLB surveyors surveyed the estate, advising residents to register and regularise their occupancy.
Rose Nayiga, chairperson of Old Kkumbu, disclosed that some tenants had paid fees for surveying and registration, but she opted not to because her tenancy was granted by the Municipal Council.
Masaka City Clerk Vincent Okurut sought to allay the residents’ fears, stating that there was no immediate plan for eviction.
He emphasised that, according to available records, the land belonged to Masaka City. He assured residents that they would be given priority when redevelopment plans were established.
However, Abdallah Kato, the Kabaka’s deputy chief for Buddu County, asserted that Old Kkumbu housing estate land belonged to the Buganda Kingdom.
He claimed that the estate was among the properties confiscated by former President Milton Obote’s government in 1966 and converted into public land.
Kato emphasised that the city authorities needed to collaborate with BLB to continue using the land.
The ongoing ownership dispute casts a shadow of uncertainty over the future of the Masaka estate, leaving residents caught in the middle of a complex legal and historical conundrum.
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