Buhaguzi East MP on the spot for alleged land grabbing

Kikuube, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Stephen Aseera, the Buhaguzi East Member of Parliament in Kikuube district is on the spot for alleged land grabbing. The MP is accused together with Charles Ochaki Nyabongo and Job Muhumuza, of illegally processing a joint title for 127 hectares of land covering three villages comprising plot 172, block 22 in Musaijamukuru.

The affected villages are Musajamukuru A, Musajamukuru B, and Kibingo in Musajamukuru parish in Buhimba sub-county in Buhaguzi East Constituency. The trio reportedly processed the title in November 2020. More than 8,000 families occupying the contested land are facing threats of eviction from the trio.

The affected residents say the trio processed the title without their consent and that of their leaders. The residents are accusing the legislator of using his position to connive with land grabbers to grab the land that they have settled on since the 1930s.

Jackson Bahemuka, a resident of Musajamukuru B village wants the MP investigated for fraudulently acquiring a title on their ancestral land without their consent, saying that they are living in fear of eviction from their homes.

John Kembabazi, also a resident says it is unfortunate that their MP who they entrusted with their votes has turned against them by grabbing their ancestral land. He says that they risk losing their land if no immediate intervention is taken.

Mwajib Kasaija, another resident wonders how the trio came to acquire a title without the consent of the area land committee and wants it immediately canceled.

Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner-RDC has assured the aggrieved residents that no one will be evicted from their land. He says that they have commenced investigations to ascertain how the trio acquired the title on the contested land.

Peter Banura, the Kikuube LC5 chairperson says that it is unfortunate that the residents are being put on tension over their ancestral land. He however says that as leaders, they will ensure that their voters are protected from land grabbers.

Aseera distanced himself from any land transactions in the mentioned villages, saying that he will come up with a detailed statement on the matter. Nyabongo, who is jointly accused with the MP, maintains that they are the rightful owners of the land because they genuinely acquired the title for the land.

Districts in the Bunyoro sub-region have witnessed a series of land conflicts since the discovery of oil and gas that has seen land grabbers and speculators invade the area putting several families in tension.

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