UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | Phionah Barungi, Senior Presidential Assistant on Special Duties, has publicly criticised government officials, including ministers, ambassadors, top army and police officers, as well as registrars at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, accusing them of orchestrating land-grabbing activities in the country.
President Yoweri Museveni finds himself bewildered and concerned over a surge in land-grabbing cases reportedly involving officials from the State House and the Office of the President.
The revelation comes from Ms. Barungi who expressed the president’s dismay during a meeting addressing land-grabbing victims in Luweero District.
In a press interaction at her office in Kampala, Ms. Barungi, without specifying names, pointed out that high-profile figures causing distress to locals with intentions to grab land or support those engaged in such activities.
Ms. Barungi expressed her disappointment in those who exploit their offices to facilitate land grabbing instead of combating it, stating, “Many people have come to my office here, and I have encountered several big officials, with the recent being an ambassador whom I won’t name here but he/she knows him/herself.”
In her impassioned statement, Barungi urged officials to cease tarnishing the president’s image, emphasising that they were entrusted with their positions to assist local Ugandans instead of engaging in land grabbing.
Responding to queries about the government’s failure to curb land grabbing, Ms Barungi specifically called out commissioners at the Ministry of Lands, emphasising her ongoing efforts to assist people whose titles have been wrongfully altered.
Barungi defended State Minister for Lands, Hon Sam Mayanja, acknowledging his efforts and the challenges he faces but attributing the overwhelming caseload to the extensive nature of the problem.
She reiterated her commitment to addressing the overwhelming cases related to land disputes.
Ms Barungi asserted that the land-grabbing crisis involves fraudulent changes to land titles and documents, orchestrated by registrars and commissioners at the Ministry of Lands, who allegedly collaborate with ministers, army officials, ambassadors, police, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), State House Officials, and wealthy individuals.
Barungi sounded a stern warning to government officials, encouraging the public to report anyone claiming to work for the State House to her office, promising verification and action against impersonators. She also pledged to identify and remove them.
Meanwhile, she stressed that the president, who fought for the less privileged, is unaware of such dealings and urged officials to desist from misconduct.
In a related development, during a meeting in Zirobwe Village, Barungi highlighted the daily influx of complaints to her office from people facing threats, with some alleging connections to powerful figures like Gen Muhoozi Kairerugaba.
However, investigations revealed false accusations by serial land grabbers, prompting concerns about the escalating land-grabbing crisis.
The situation prompted Hon Sam Mayanja, to take immediate action during the meeting in Bamunakika.
He ordered the arrest of two alleged land grabbers, Mary Babirye and Rasmus Kagaba, signalling a move towards addressing the deeply rooted issue.
Ms Barungi sheds light on a pervasive problem that demands urgent attention to safeguard the rights of vulnerable individuals and uphold ethical conduct within government offices.
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