The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Rukiga, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Office of the President has intervened in a land feud between Muhanga town council authorities, residents and State House officials.
The 32 acre piece of land is located at Nyakitabire hill, Muhanga town council in Rukiga district.
Last month, two State House officials, Constance Bamukunda and Eunice Kyomuhendo, petitioned Museveni accusing Eudia Mutabazi, Muhanga town council assistant town clerk, and Aggrey Magezi, Muhanga town council Land board committee chairperson of frustrating their plans of applying for freehold ownership of the contested land.
Bamukunda and Kyomuhendo say that they had applied for a freehold title of the land which they inherited from their fathers, late John Rwagara (Bamukunda’s father) and late Solomon Kirundi (Kyomuhendo’s father).
They however argue that after their application, Mutabazi and Magezi frustrated the process with an intention of defrauding them.
On Wednesday, Nathan Bwogi, the Legal Assistant to the President and State House in charge of the lands department summoned both parties for a meeting at Muhanga town council main hall.
Bwogi during the meeting tasked Mutabazi and Magezi to explain the motive of behind the failure to expedite the issuing of land titles for the contested land. Mutabazi in her defence argued that she declined after a section of residents protested against Bamukunda and Kyomuhendo whom they accused of grabbing public land.
Mutabaazi also demanded that members in the meeting immediately visit the contested land so that the petitioners openly show their demarcations.
Eliab Begumya Ntarweete, Rukiga District Chief Administrative Officer questioned why Bamukunda and Kyomuhendo rushed to petition Museveni instead of district officials.
Residents who include Neebye Stephen Rutaro, Willy Turyahikayo,73, Medard Kakusi,65, Gilbert Mwebaze, and Peace Kakuru say that they will hold a protest in case Bamukunda and Kyomuhendo take over the contested land.
Bwogi who was accompanied by Prikeria Muhindo Mwiine, Rukiga Resident District Commissioner, and William Babimpa, Officer-in-Charge of Criminal Investigations Department at Rukiga Police Station called for calm between both parties and promised to return after two weeks with government surveyors.
Geoffrey Karunganwa , Nyakitabire village LCI chairman who had said that Bamukunda and Kyomuhendo are owners of the land made a u-turn and apologized to the residents. He said that he did not have facts to back his claims.
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