UGANDA, Kyankwanzi | Real Muloodi News | A contentious land dispute in Kyankwanzi District has reached a boiling point, as sitting tenants protest the government’s decision to compensate Gen Aronda Nyakairima’s widow, Patricia Alinda Nyakairima, with USh11 billion. The disputed land, spanning three square miles, is claimed by Ms Nyakairima, but the sitting tenants argue that she is not the rightful owner.
“We are asking the government to prove ownership of the land before compensating anyone,” said Patrick Kyasanku, the leader of the sitting tenants.
The tenants, occupying the land in Kiyuni Parish, Gayaza Sub County, are resisting the compensation deal, citing unanswered questions about the land’s ownership.
“There are unanswered questions on some parcels of land which Ms Nyakairima claims to be part of her piece of land. The process through which the disputed pieces of land were obtained is questionable and we want the court to help us settle the ownership dispute around these parcels of land,” Mr Kyasanku explained.
The disputed land stretches across seven villages, including Kyerere East, Kiyuni, Birama, Kyakibenje, Butikiro, Dagaza, and Kiyuni Central. The tenants contest the ownership of specific plots, such as Block 709, Plot 5, and Block 711, Plot 7, which they claim were allocated irregularly.
According to Mr Kyasanku, some plots whose ownership was contested in the application they filed include Block 709, Plot 5 which has overriding titles owned by different people, including Ms Nyakairima.
Innocent Okong, a lawyer for Ms Nyakairima, argued that the government cannot compensate Ms Nyakairima without proving ownership.
“Government cannot just come out and say that they are going to compensate you without proving ownership of that thing they are going to pay for. How can a tenant question the landlord’s eligibility on his/her property? Can they produce the title for that piece of land?” Mr Okong asked.
The Gayaza Sub County chairperson, Leosan Salongo, described the deal as a sham, citing the eviction of over 5,000 people who are now suffering.
“It’s very unfair for the government to compensate someone who was faked and bought 3.4 square miles later evicted over 5,000 people who are now suffering,” Mr Salongo said.
As the dispute unfolds, the sitting tenants remain adamant that the compensation deal is erroneous and that the court should settle the ownership dispute before any payment is made.
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