This was revealed by residents of Rukiga district in South Western Uganda during a meeting organised by district security officials early this week.
Residents intimated some of the dubious tactics used by the purported land-grabbers. “They fence off public land in the wee hours of the night and then deploy private security guards with knowledge of district security officials,” residents divulged in unison.
It was noted that after the land is fenced off, the purported grabbers go to court seeking to maintain the status quo. In such circumstances, not even security officials nor local leaders can do much to avert the court’s standing orders yet some cases take long in court before getting disposed of.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Rukiga district, Zadoch Kamusiime said, the influential land grabbers avoid engaging with local leadership, using the excuse of receiving instructions “from above.”
“They also resort to threats, intimidating district government officials with the possibility of suspension from work,” he revealed.
He further stated that the RDC’s office has so far received several complaints from individuals whose homes and gardens have been fenced off under the watch of private security personnel, posing a significant security threat to the district.
One of the land issues that are said to have put residents at a risk within the district revolves around a piece of land located in Nyabubare Cell, Rwenyangyi Parish, Kamwezi Subcounty where a one Mary Kibahigire’s family reportedly encroached upon approximately 60 acres of land, extending beyond their said rightful boundaries, and where private security guards were deployed.
The District Police Commander (DPC) of Rukiga district, SP Hussein Niwagaba said, security had already apprehended several suspects allegedly involved in the land disputes on the aforementioned land. The authorities are currently searching for the remaining individuals who are said to have gone into hiding.
The DPC mentioned that his office had previously received complaints from people who claimed that a certain Kibahigire was forcefully evicting them from their land with the assistance of armed men. This prompted the deployment of officers to investigate the matter, and a report was subsequently submitted to the RDC’s office for intervention.
It is worth noting that in February of this year, the Rukiga district security team, led by RDC Nayebare Kyamuzigita and local leaders, organised a meeting at Nyakitabire public land in Muhanga Town Council. The meeting was to facilitate dialogue between the concerned parties and recommend legal resolution through the court system.
When approached for a comment regarding the land dispute, Mary Kibahigire was not willing to respond, resorting to physical threats and using offensive language.
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