Mengo orders Banyala off Bbaale County land
The Ssabanyala’s temporary palace at the contested Wabirumba hill in Bbaale County, Kayunga District. PHOTO BY FRED MUZAALE
KAYUNGA- Buganda Kingdom has ordered Banyala chiefdom leaders in Kayunga District to vacate Bbaale County headquarters where the latter are currently constructing their administrative offices.
According to the Kabaka’s chief in Bugerere County, Mr James Ssempigga, the Banyala last year grabbed Buganda’s land in Bbaale and constructed a temporary palace for the Ssabanyala and offices without their consent.
“We are calling upon the cultural leader of the Banyala to immediately vacate the Buganda Kingdom property in Bbaale Town to pave way for development projects,” Mr Ssempigga said in an interview on Tuesday.
Bbaale County is located about 45kms from Kayunga Town and it is where most Banyala live.
However, the Bunyala chiefdom premier, Mr Martin Senkatuuka, said only the central government can order them off the place.
“We have not grabbed anybody’s property. We are simply using our land, which was returned to us following the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the central government and Buganda Kingdom,” Mr Senkatuuka said.
The claims
The Banyala have since the signing of the MoU claimed ownership of the county and all sub-county headquarters in Kayunga District, something Buganda Kingdom has rejected, insisting that they still own the property and have land titles in their possession to prove it.
Buganda Kingdom spokesperson Noah Kiyimba criticised the Banyala for claiming Buganda’s property.
“This is laughable because I wonder how one can claim ownership of property that does not belong to them,” Mr Kiyimba said.
Recently, unknown people pulled down arches constructed by Buganda Kingdom loyalists at Bbaale County headquarters ahead of the Kabaka visit to the area.
The visit was later rescheduled for a date yet to be communicated. The Banyala also want the structures that used to house Bugerere County headquarters in Ntenjeru Town handed over to them.
Currently, Buganda Kingdom is using the buildings to house Muteesa I Royal University study centre.
Kayunga Resident District Commissioner Rose Birungi said she is aware of the impasse between Buganda and the Banyala over Bbaale County property but said the matter is being handled by higher authorities.
Ms Birungi also called for calm between both leaders.
Buganda Kingdom and the Banyala have been at loggerheads since 2008 when the latter’s leader, Baker Kimeze, took over the throne from his late father, Nathan Mpagi.
Maj Kimeze has since claimed that Kayunga is not part of Buganda, a claim Mengo has always dismissed.
In 2009, this led to violent protests in Buganda, which left more than 20 people dead after the Banyala blocked the Kabaka’s visit to Kayunga, demanding that he must first seek permission from the Ssabanyala, which Mengo refused to do .
