The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Officials from the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board-DAPCB, have expressed dissatisfaction over some powerful businessmen, whom they accuse of conniving with local authorities to grab former Asians property within Jinja city.
Speaking at a locus visit presided over by Lady Justice Faridah Bukirwa at plot 20, Iganga road, in Southern division of Jinja city on Thursday, the custodian board members accused officials from Trans Africa Commerce Ltd, an estate management arm of Mehta Group for demolishing the property without their consent.
While addressing journalists, the custodian board’s divesture committee member, Hirome Sabbehe, said that while aware that Patrick Wanume was the legally recognized tenant of plot 20, agents of Trans Africa demolished part of the said property and evicted him late last month.
Sabbehe noted that plot 20 was originally owned by Hoima Cotton Limited, but following their expulsion from Uganda in the 1970’s, they never returned to repossess their property in the year 1993, living it under the supervision of the ministry of finance’s managed custodian board.
He however says that on noticing the state of the property, Trans Africa agents claimed ownership without presenting requisite documentation.
Trans Africa further sued Wanume over defaulting on rent. However, he secured an interim order from the Jinja High Court affirming his continued stay at the same premises, but private security guards were deployed at the locus and he was denied access.
Bukirwa however visited the locus, and was interviewed by the local authorities and officials from Jinja city’s security circles respectively, before ruling in favor of reinstating Wanume back in the house and she directed Trans Africa to compensate him for the damages caused during the eviction process.
Officials from Trans Africa declined to address the press over the matter.
Sabbehe says that much as they have registered success on plot 20, the board has noticed that rackets of land grabbers are stealthily conniving with a section of security personnel and local authorities respectively, to illegally evict sitting tenants.
Meanwhile, the Kiira central police commander, David Otabong confirms that cases involving custodian board property are being managed at the lands desk, but he declined to divulge details, arguing that most of the enquiries were still in their primary stages.
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