The family of the Late Alexander Kiwombojjo at Ngogwe Sub- County in Buikwe District is counting losses after a self-claimed landlord sprayed their sugarcane plantation with dangerous chemicals on orders of the Resident District Commissioner, Hawa Ndege Namugenyi.
Family members of Late Kiwombojjo invested nearly 40 million shillings to re-establish about 12 acres of sugarcane on their plots of land, to their shock, the RDC stopped them from using their land claiming tenants are not supposed to run long-term projects on plots of land.
The heir to the Late Kiwombojjo, Solomon Ssekatawa says the RDC made orders during a meeting she convened at the district headquarters on May 15, this year on claims that she received complaints from the landlords stopping any development on land.
As a result, the self-claimed landlord sprayed over six acres of sugarcane during the night hours with dangerous chemicals causing the sugarcanes to dry.
Buikwe Agricultural Officer visited the plantation and confirmed that it was sprayed using non-selective herbicides used in clearing the waste ground, industrial, and construction sites to kill all plant materials it comes in contact with.
It is allegedly said that the spraying exercise was conducted by Possiano Nsubuga, Robert Kizito, and Herbart Bosco Kiwanuka, together with their mother, Robinah Kitombo claiming to be the administrators of the estate of the Late Wasswa Batulumayo, the Landlord where Kiwombojjo’s plots of land are comprised.
According to the family members, the contested plot of land is where Kiwombojjo used to cultivate crops, specifically vanilla and sugarcane until he passed on in 2020 at the age of 84.
So far they have opened up a criminal case of trespass, and malicious damage at Ngogwe Police Station seeking its intervention but nothing has been done to the culprits.
One of the family administrators of the estate of the Late Kiwombojjo, Nicholas Luminsa says they are tenants willing to pay land fees to the landlord or buy off themselves but the self-claimed landlords have no documents confirming their possession.
“The self-claimed landlords have lived with us in the village, come out after the death of our father, and started claiming our land. They have support from the office of the RDC who denied us a chance to explain our case.” Luminsa noted.
In our recent conversation with the RDC, she revealed what she is doing before concluding that the tenants on the contested land are instead the land grabbers.
This incident happened at the time when the RDC was facing serious criticism for conducting an illegal eviction of residents at Naava Cell in Njeru Municipality of Buikwe District.
She mobilized a team of security personnel comprising army and police officers before escorting a group of self-claimed bailiffs (not registered) to demolish the house of Simon Herbart Alideki without a court order and a district security committee endorsement, fortunately, she was stopped by the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa.
Regrettably, the minister has been criticized by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Office of the Presidency, Hajji Yunus Kakande who noted that she would have reported the RDC to their office for action rather than embarrassing her in the public.
“Once the minister finds out that the RDC is illegally involved in dubious dealings should inform us and then place charges against the accused, but it is not good to do direct confrontation in the field.” Hajji Kakande noted.
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