Writes Brian Mugenyi
Masaka Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the famous National Resistance Movement coordinators and nine others to vacate land grabbed from the family of the Late Deo Luwukya.
The accused NRM mobilisers are Ibrahim Bulu Katale and Richard Kimera. Others are Juma Ssekandi, Badru Ssesanga, Matilida Nalungi, Herman Kiberu, Regina Namubiru, Godfrey Ssuuna, Kasimu Ssentamu, Joseph Waliggo and Roseline Anyango.
The above were taken to court by Donah Kwesigira, the estate administrator to the Late Luwukya, and charged with trespass and encroachment on approximately 150 acres comprised of Buddu Block 314 plot 19/20 volume 1575 folio 5 at Bukibonga village, Bukakata sub-county in Masaka District.
The encroachers established developments without the owner’s approval. However, the Chief Magistrate, Aloysious Natwijuka Baryeza concluded that they illegally occupied the land and should vacate.
The court instructed the defendants to compensate the petitioner over 80 million shillings as damages on top of vacating the land but disregarded its directives.
According to Kwesagira, the defendants are backed up by the district security team that would instead enforce the court order.
“RDC, DPC, and local leaders playing the cat and mouse games with the court’s order and none of them have adhered to the ruling but chose to stay akimbo. They have resorted to threatening and intimidating our family to give up on the matter.” Kwesigira reveals.
Our reporter has established that Bulu Katare has lately connived with the local council-LCI chairperson, Herman Kiberu, and sold off 10 acres to a businessman, John Masereka to carry out farming.
The complainant’s Lawyer, Christopher Bumpenje says the land grabbers took advantage of the land being idle, settled on it, and established developments to claim occupancy in the absence of the family.
“My client’s father, the late Deo Luwukya purchased the land through his father Kyayi Kagolo in 1986 with a 99- leasehold under the Buganda Land Board management. None of the encroachers convinced the court how they acquired the land.”