Since the emergence of Covid-19 pandemic in Uganda, many things came to a standstill and many changes occurred in certain offices more so in civil service. Many directives were issued by the President and others by the different ministries as a way of avoiding the spread of the virus and also to curb crime.
Among the directives which were issued, one was about the eviction, and this was more emphasized by the former Minister of Lands, Hon Beti Namisango Kamya. On 16 April 2020, Ms Kamya gave guidance on matters relating to land evictions purported to be taking place in the country during the COVID-19 lockdown, including stopping of all land transactions during the lockdown period.
She said that sufficient notice must be issued together with a valid Court Order which should have been cleared by the Inspector General of Police. As per the Presidential directive, Minister Kamya made it more clear that no one should be evicted from their bibanja or the land they are in possession of during the current COVID-19 lockdown period, for any reason including non-payment of Ground Rent.
Although the President and Minister Kamya came out to direct that way, Lule Kigozi, a Real Estate broker, kept a deaf ear and he went ahead to mobilize five youths to remove doors and windows from the house where his wife and his children were sleeping, hence demolishing it.
Kigozi had earlier on asked his estranged wife, Prossy Nalukwago, a mother of three and a resident of Buligobe Village in Nama Sub-county, to vacate the house since they separated three years back after giving birth to one child. Nalukwago declined to vacate the house on grounds that she also contributed to the purchase of the land and construction of the house.
This prompted Nalukwago to run to Mukono Police Division and opened up a case of domestic violence and malicious damage against her ex-husband, Kizito, on SD Ref 51/28/08/202. However, in the end, Kigozi reportedly teamed up with the officers in-charge of the Child and Family Protection Unit at the police station and opened up the same cases against Nalukwago.
It is alleged that Kigozi had already informed the police personnel about his move before Nalukwago entered a case of domestic violence. Nalukwago explained that when she went to police unit, she was arrested and detained for four days on an accusation of domestic violence against her estranged husband.
The acting DPC, Mr Ismail Kifudde, was forced to intervene in this matter after the journalists approached him and called the file. All the officers in-charge of the Unit were ordered to release the lady immediately.
However, the officer in-charge of Unit, ASP Stellah Uleah, slapped new charges against Nalukwago saying that she had assaulted AIP Ruth Nabirye while trying to follow up on the case.
“Afande Kifude directed them to release me upon the review of the file, which showed the case I had filed against Kigozi. There was no mention of the assault charges as claimed by the officers,” Nalukwago said.
ASP Uleah, however, insisted that Nalukwago masterminded the demolition of the contested house, adding that Kigozi only moved in to recover the windows and doors to repair the house. She also insisted that Nalukwago assaulted a police officer.
One of Nalukwago’s neighbours on the other hand said that Kigozi deployed about six youths to demolish the house before ferrying windows and doors on a pickup truck.
According to Hon Kamya’s directives, no land transactions (searches, transfers, subdivisions, caveats, assessment and payment of stamp duty) are being handled by any Land office during this Covid-19 period until the lockdown is lifted and all court orders on evictions.
“Whether issued before or during this period, must not be enforced until after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted,” she said.
English 