Residents of Kaseeta village in Butembe Sub-county, Kyankwanzi District are up in arms against Kiryandongo RDC Dan Muganga, who they accuse of illegally grabbing their land. The family of the late Yakobo Kinyira claims Muganga colluded with businessman Asuman Kasolo to seize their property without any legal ownership documents.
The dispute centers on Block 781, covering approximately one square mile of land that the Kinyira family says has been theirs for generations. Shockingly, despite lacking proper documentation, RDC Muganga and Kasolo allegedly demarcated the land with boundary marks in a brazen attempt to claim ownership.
I witnessed firsthand how RDC Muganga and Asuman Kasolo conspired to grab this land. They used state power to intimidate the rightful owners. The truth is they have no legal claim whatsoever.
The matter reached the highest levels when State Minister for Lands Dr. Sam Mayanja convened an emergency meeting attended by Presidential Assistant Phiona Barungi and local leaders. In a dramatic turn of events, Minister Mayanja issued a stern directive.
DR. SAM MAYANJA (State Minister for Land.
I hereby order RDC Dan Muganga to immediately vacate this land and remove all illegal structures. The Kinyira family must be allowed to return to their property without delay. Land grabbing under any guise must stop.
In a similar development, Minister Mayanja also addressed the case of Luwagga Kato's family in Kiboga District, where retired Maj. Gen. Samuel Wasswa stands accused of occupying Block 541 Plot 14 in Singo, Lwankonge. Despite Wasswa's military background, the minister was unequivocal.
Even if you fought alongside the President, you have no right to grab people's land. I'm ordering Maj. Gen. Wasswa to vacate this property immediately.
This comes just days after President Museveni, during his visit to Kiboga, commended Minister Mayanja's efforts in resolving land disputes but cautioned against unlawful evictions, emphasizing that all cases must follow due process.
KINYIRA FAMILY SPOKESPERSON
We're grateful to Minister Mayanja for this order. However, we need protection against possible retaliation. We just want to peacefully return to our ancestral land.
This case highlights Uganda's persistent struggle against land grabbing by powerful individuals. As the Kinyira family awaits justice, questions remain about how RDC Muganga and his associates allegedly abused their positions. For now, all eyes are on whether these orders will be enforced.
|
|
Disqus comments error!
Disqus shortname is required to use Disqus comments. Please ensure you have specify a valid registered Disqus shortname.