Hon.Beti Kamya , the minister of Lands, Housing and Urban development has blocked the eviction of an 86 year old lady from being chased from her piece of land.
The land in contention is on block 185 and plot 385 in Kito Namugongo , Kiira Municipality Wakiso district, registered in names Alice Nabitosi and Sendawula Yusufu as lawful owners.
After the receiving the information, Mininster Kamya on 12th November wrote to the Resident District Commissioner ‘RDC’ Wakiso, directing him on how she received a petition from Ms Kikomeko, Kayira & Advocates on behalf of their clients Mr Sendawula Yusufu and Nabitosi Alice about the threats of eviction and violence perpetrated by the agents of a one Winnie Tugume.
“The above dispute has been ongoing for some time. However, records show that Ssemakula and Nabitosi were declared lawful and bonafide Bibanja holders by the High Court. The Purpose of this letter is to request your office to ensure that no eviction or demolition and harassment of the occupants of the above land is carried out”,Min Kamya said.
Minister Beti Kamya’s letter to Wakiso RDCMin.Kamya further ordered that the status quo should be maintained as decreed by court adding that evictions should only be carried out in compliance with guidelines issued by the ministry of lands, housing and urban development.
Ms Nabitosi also recently,petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola protesting actions of his junior AIGP Twaruhukwa, whom they accuse of protecting interests of Winnie Tugume on the land to the disadvantage of Nabitosi and family.
The petition to the IGP followed a directive by AIGP Erasmus Twaruhukwa, the Police Director Human Rights and Legal Services ordering disciplinary action against police officers at Kira Division Police that were reportedly involved in the land wrangle.
In his January 03, 2020 letter, AIGP Twaruhukwa ordered the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander to have police officers from Kira Division disciplined for being deployed on the contested land recently to block Tugume from using it, basing on an exe parte court order which the AIGP claimed had been challenged and dismissed.
Twaruhukwa also directed that there should be no police interference “into the owner’s use of their property in any manner unless there is a court order to that effect which must be cleared by the Directorate of Legal Services as the procedure is.
The deployment of the police on the premises should be to protect the rights of the current occupant to wit, Ms TugumeWinnie/Hasifa Namukasa.”
Meanwhile Nabitosi’s lawyers attacked AIGP Twaruhuka in their petition accusing him of siding and granting ownership of the contested land to their rival, Winnie Tugume.
“We have been perplexed by a communication from your office by Mr. Twaruhukwa Erasmus whose purpose was to grant ownership and possession to the said Winnie Tugume without carrying out any due diligence as would be required from your high ranking officer,” Read the petition in part.
“The unprofessional actions of your said officer have resurrected into violent actions and fatal incidents whereupon your immediate attention, investigation and action are required to establish the true facts in this matter and on ground.” the petition further reads.
Despite a pending court ruling, tempers flared in January after residents clashed with security officers blocking Tugume from excavating the contested land leading to shooting of one person to death.
“It is only proper that all activities on this land be halted in the meanwhile for a proper investigation especially on which party rightfully possesses the land irrespective of the conflict on title,” the petitioners demanded.
