The inside story of Bulambuli land saga

Early last year a man only identified as Cherukut, was killed during clashes between the two tribes over ownership of the land in Burukuyi Parish.

But what really is the inside story of the land that threatens to bring back bad blood between two ethnic groups that have in the recent past enjoyed good relations in the Elgon region?

Well, the devil haunting the Sabiny and the Bagisu over this land snakes from boundary demarcation to fraudulent land deals -- at worst, with some land irregularly sold to investors. Money in billions of shillings is said to have slithered into people’s pockets.
The most affected areas are Plot 100 in Katapchemwal, Plot 101 in Bwihonge and plots 112, 113 and 114 in Kala and neighbouring areas.

Genesis
From history excerpts, the land located in Bunambutye and Bwihonge sub-counties had its destiny determined when in the 1950s the Bagisu, Sabiny, Babukusu and the Nandi fled the area following persistent rustling by the Karimojong.

The groups had run away, but little did they know that 60 years later, the land would be a hot cake.

In 2007, when relative peace returned to the largely flat land, some of the groups packed their belongings to return to the area. But because 60 years had been long, boundaries were distorted and some indigenous people had passed away.

Trouble would brew under the heavy blanket of supposed ignorance as residents began to brandish weapons, some threatening to slit throats – it would soon happen.
Both counties have 67,400 acres of land.

So on June 29, 2009, a delegation of elders from the Elgon region met President Museveni over complaints that the boundaries of Kapchorwa and Sironko districts were not clear and that some local leaders had begun to sell land irregularly.

The leaders indicated that a platform for bloodshed was simmering and the message sank in the President’s ears.

Exactly three months later, Mr Museveni directed the Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister to demarcate the boundary of the two districts and suspend surveys, investigate and cancel irregularly obtained land titles.

The then Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Kirunda Kivejinja, formed a committee led by former deputy Inspector General of Police Julius Odwe to dissect the matter.

The group comprised Francis Rwego, Bwogi, Bright Nzirimu and F. Mugizi. They would be helped by Maj. Leonard Chemonges, Capt. Juma Seiko and then Sironko chairperson Kibale Wambi.

Recommendations
The committees made recommendations and among others, were to make sure the border was made clear, land titles from 2001 to 2007 are cancelled until they are verified and that all land fraudulently acquired be recovered.

The report released just over a year ago also directed criminal investigations of people involved in the saga.
Mbale Municipal Council, which had reportedly bought Plot 113 at Shs759,000 per acre (Shs950 million) instead of Shs250,000 per acre as had been declared to residents, would also be investigated.
Mbale Municipal Council is said to have got a Shs800 million loan from Housing Finance bank.

A Cabinet document (Cabinet Information Paper CT (2012)) which this newspaper has seen, names more than eight people, including local leaders, to be behind the fraudulent deal.
The group is also accused of giving themselves, relatives and unknown people big chunks of land and receiving payments from some of the land buyers.

On July 30, 2012, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr Stephen Kagoda, wrote to the Secretary Uganda Land Commission, saying: “Cabinet considered this matter [Bulambuli land saga] and tasked a ministerial team to go on the ground and present the investigation report to the people…”

However, another thorny issue would disturb the Sabiny. That Minister James Baba, in November last year, said the committee report indicated that Plot 101 had no issues, met a hostile reception from the men and women from the hills.

A group of people claiming the land had been sold irregularly sprung up.

Mr Baba said the government would look into the matter and also that resettlement plans were underway.

As the residents waited to get the resettlement plan, disturbing news filtered through. The news came lightly but dealt them a heavy blow.

Land sold to investor
Four individuals: Siraji Chebet, Hakim Konyi Chemisto, Diisi Saul and Mohammed Kwemboi allegedly sold the land on Plot 101 at Shs4 billion to an investor. The four, however, claim the land belongs to them.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday, Mr Chemisto said: “We are the true owners of the land. The issue has been politicised yet the land is ancestral. Our grandfathers owned this land before they were displaced by Karimojong rustlers.”

The group reportedly leased out the land to Mara Agricultural Group of Companies for 99 years.

The State Minister of Transport, Mr Stephen Chebrot, also Tingey MP, on January 8 wrote to the minister of Lands and Urban Development over the matter.

In the letter, he requested that all land titles of the affected plots be cancelled and Julius Odwe investigation team resolutions be implemented.

On February 21, the Commissioner Land Registration, Ms Sarah Kulata, wrote to owners of plots 100, 101,102,112,113 and 114, informing them that the government was planning to cancel all their land titles.

Also Ms Kulata said following the illegal sale of land by Bugisu elders without regard to bonafide owners, titles of land bought by Mbale Municipal Council Bweyakala Parish would be cancelled. However, this newspaper has not got independent information on whether the land owners received the letter nor gave feedback.
That individuals had pocketed Shs4 billion, would haunt local leaders in the days to come.

Kapchorwa District chairperson, Mr Sam Cheptoris also met with stakeholders who agreed that the investors be refunded and individuals be investigated. They also agreed that Odwe’s report be implemented and that no further transactions should be held in the area.

On January 8, Mr Cheptoris wrote to the Minister of Lands over the matter. In response, the minister, Mr Daudi Migereko, through Dr Chebrot, said a meeting be held on February 28.
However, this fell flat following the death of Mr Museveni’s father, Amos Kaguta.

The meeting would be held on May 16, where Mr Migereko ordered that land titles issued to individuals and companies be cancelled.
But area Woman Member of Parliament and also minister for Energy and Mineral Development Irene Muloni said: “We want to ascertain the true owners of the land in question such that it is re-surveyed by the government and purchased for resettlement of mudslide survivors.”

Such is the dilemma that the Bulambuli land is shrouded in.

Odwe committee recommendation
• Border demarcation of Sironko (before Bulambuli was formed) and Kapchorwa be expedited as per President Museveni’s directive.
• All land titles issued in the area from 2007 to 2010 be cancelled until a clear verification of ownership is done
• Land that was fraudulently claimed, titled and later sold be recovered.
• Criminal investigations be opened on all suspected individuals in the land saga.
• Mbale Municipal Council be criminally investigated for the inflated cost and procedure used to acquire land in Bunambutye.

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