UGANDA, Kayunga | Real Muloodi News | Mengo and Kayunga leaders found themselves at the centre of a protracted battle over a prime piece of land adjacent to Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital and the local police station.
The dispute revolves around a one-acre parcel claimed by both the Buganda Kingdom and the family of the late Malaki Kalya.
The latest skirmish unfolded when gunmen, purportedly linked to Kalya’s family, confronted Kabaka’s chiefs in Kayunga Town, uprooting around 1,000 young trees previously planted by kingdom officials at Mumyuka Sub-county headquarters.
This latest clash is just one episode in a saga that has spanned three years, prompting intervention from Kayunga District authorities.
The district’s ruling favoured the late Kalya’s family, a decision contested vehemently by Buganda Kingdom officials.
The contested land, which houses the Mumyuka Sub-county headquarters building erected in the 1930s, is at the heart of the dispute.
Last year on 21st December 2023, a unified effort to restore the uprooted trees saw the acting Kabaka chief for Bugerere County, Mr Bashir Ziraba, Kayunga District chairman Mr Andrew Muwonge, and Mumyuka Sub-county chief Ms Margaret Ssempala coming together to replant the trees.
Expressing surprise, Mr Ziraba questioned the family’s claim over the land, highlighting the historical significance of the sub-county structures built by the Mengo administration.
Moreover, he called attention to the use of government guns in the conflict, seeking an explanation from the government regarding the identity of the gunmen and the source of their weapons.
According to Mr Ziraba, the culprits had already faced legal action, debunking claims that Mengo lacked the land title for the disputed property.
Mr Andrew Muwonge, representing Kayunga District, condemned the uprooting of the trees as a disrespectful act against the Kabaka and the cultural institution.
He urged the police to provide clarity on the steps taken against those responsible for destroying the trees and threatening Kabaka’s chiefs.
Contrary to allegations suggesting the gunmen’s affiliation with the State House, Mr Paul Mukasa, the administrator of late Kalya’s estate, asserted that they would resist any attempt by Mengo to seize their land.
Mr Mukasa even declared intentions to uproot the replanted trees, emphasising the family’s determination to defend their claim.
Adding to the complexity, Ms Rosette Sikahwa, the Kayunga District Police commander, revealed that investigations were ongoing to determine the identity of the gunmen.
She urged the conflicting parties to seek a peaceful resolution or resort to the legal system for redress.
In the midst of the ongoing dispute over the [disputed land in Mengo], the struggle for control persists, with each side unwavering in their claim to the historically significant and hotly contested one-acre property.
The clash between the Buganda Kingdom and the late Kalya’s family not only reflects a legal battle but also raises questions about the involvement of government resources, escalating tensions in Kayunga Town.
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