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6,000 households in Nakaseke worried about eviction threats
Mr Stephen Mugambwa, a Bush War veteran, stands next to his former house which was reportedly demolished in an eviction exercise at Kimegerede Village in Semuto Town Council, Nakaseke District recently. PHOTO/DAN WANDERA
What you need to know:
- Local leaders say the ploy to grab land from sitting tenants is facilitated by individuals that claim to be well connected in government
A t least 6,000 households in Nakaseke District are worried about the increasing eviction threats from individuals who they claim want to grab their land.
Mr Stephen Mugambwa, a Bush War veteran and resident of Kimegerede Zone in Ssemuto Town Council, said many residents have been forced to abandon their land.
Mr Mugambwa claims Maj Sula Sserunjogi, the former Wakiso Resident District Commissioner, was arrested, but later released on police bond after reportedly demolishing his house and his plantations.
“We have been left to battle the powerful land grabbers that are at times escorted by armed security operatives, including the police. My house was razed and property destroyed when a former RDC mobilised thugs to help him execute his evil mission,” he said on Tuesday.
However, Maj Sserunjogi claimed his actions were backed by a court order.
“The house that I demolished belongs to a trespasser on a piece of land I acquired in 2018. The fact that the house was demolished at night does not deny me the right to own my property. The court gave me the power to take possession of the land,” he said.
Local leaders say the eviction threats have hindered them from mobilising residents to engage in productive activities such as commercial agriculture.
At Kawomya and Abogwe villages, bibanja holders teamed up with the Nakaseke South MP, Mr Paul Lutamaguzi, to chase away the surveyors that attempted to survey the land without consulting sitting tenants. Some of the land had been fenced off.
Mr Sam Mukasa, a resident of Kabogwe Village in Kapeeka Sub-county, claimed a UPDF soldier identified as Emmanuel Kamuntu, is threatening to evict more than 60 households in the area.
“Kamuntu, who is using the police at Kapeeka to threaten the bibanja holders, has forced some residents to report at Kapeeka Central Police where residents are forced to hand in their original land agreements in exchange for money that cannot enable them buy land for resettlement. We have now teamed up with our MP to find justice for our people,” he said.
Mr Lutamaguzi said the ploy to grab land from sitting tenants is facilitated by individuals that claim to be well connected in government, adding that security agencies deliberately disregard the land transaction guidelines under the amended Land Act, 2010.
“I have decided to join the oppressed residents to resist any attempts to make our people landless. Land purchase should be based on a willing buyer and willing seller, but not the ongoing eviction in total disregard of the constitutional provisions that give the citizens the right to own property, including the land,” he said.
“We are preaching wealth creation, but the land grabbers now target the land. This explains why a big percentage of households are becoming poorer in Nakaseke,” the MP added.
However, Mr Kamuntu denied the allegations.
“I have met some of the residents and several have been compensated. I have arranged a process that will see the affected residents compensated,” he said.
The deputy RDC, Maj (rtd) John Kaddu, condemned illegal evictions.
“The demolition of a residential house in the night was an unlawful act in the guise of a court order. Court orders are not executed at night. We need to protect the vulnerable population from evil doers. It is also true that land restlessness is a big challenge in the district,” he said.
