A team of five Departed Asians Property Custodian Board-DAPCB officials together with Buikwe Resident District Commissioner, Jane Francis Kagayi survived lynching from irritated residents who accused them for opening boundaries on their land located at Kalagala Village in Kiyindi Town Council Buikwe district.
Officials claimed notifying locals staying on approximately one square mile of land through the office of the resident district commissioner about the activity but residents insisted that once they allow the board to secure boundaries, the next move might be evicting them.
Residents joined by local leaders ordered DAPCB officials to enter their vehicles and vacate the place or risk serious beating. Officials have complied and left the place escorted by a Lugazi police patrol of about six officers amidist loud chanting from residents.
Hirome Sabbehe Mayanja opened up a case at Lugazi police on behalf of the board but is still wondering how residents without any certificate of occupancy can respond in such a violent manner their presence.
Mayanja notes that the land on which they were carrying out boundary opening used to belong to the departed Indian Damuje Laston Boan in 1950s who was once a famous coffee farmer before expulsion of Asians during Amin’s regime.
Buikwe Resident District Commissioner, Jane Francis Kagaayi appeals to the president designate a special enforcement team to support the board execute its planned activities.
Last week, President Yoweri Museveni directed DAPCB to fast-track the recovery of thousands of properties including estates under the board management but believed to have been fraudulently taken over by wealthy business personalities and encroachers.
Isaac Moses Mazinga, a resident at Kiyindi says they have been born on the contested land. He says the government should identify new land to relocate them before embarking on any process.
In December 2005, the government released a report in which it claimed paying off Shillings 1.7billion to 119 former owners in compensation.
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