Minister Kibuule quizzed over illegal land acquisition, eviction of 140 households

What you need to know:

  • Accused of dishonouring his position as minister and MP, Mr Kibuule was also quizzed in regard to death of a one Dickson Wasswa and detention of Golomolo LC I chairman, James Banda as well as engaging in transaction which violated the law.

KAMPALA. State minister for water, Ronald Kibuule has been quizzed in connection with alleged illegal land acquisition and eviction of more than 140 households from an 85 acre land in Kigaya-Golomolo, Buikwe District.

Mr Kibuule, also the Mukono North Member of Parliament was also questioned by commission of inquiry into land matters over his alleged involvement in the deployment of armed security personnel in the area leading to arrest and detention of various people, some of whom were forced to flee their property and rendered homeless.

Ms Sanyu Nassali on Tuesday told the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire-led commission that in July 2017, Mr Kibuule was introduced as a new landlord and deployed graders and surveyors leading to destruction of her crops and households.
Appearing before the Commission sitting at the National Archives and Records Centre at Wandegeya on Wednesday, Mr Kibuule, a resident of Kasanje Village, Nama Sub County in Mukono District denied any wrong doing saying that he purchased the said land from businessman Musa Kateregga without encumbrances as per search certificate issued in May 2017 by the land office in Mukono.

“I was looking for land touching water and brokers knew it. I asked the brokers to do due diligence and found that it was registered in the names of Musa Kateregga. Upon receiving the search, I did not have a reason to visit it. But a meeting was held to streamline the process after I paid a deposit,” said Mr Kibuule revealing that he paid Shs120 million for the 85 acres.
Mr Kibuule was responding to complaints challenging his ownership of the land measuring 34.4100 hectares (about 85 acres) comprising of block 369 Plot 10 at Kigaya-Golomolo in Buikwe District.

It is alleged that the contested land formerly owned by the Namasole (Queen mother of reigning Kabaka of Buganda) is under the management of Buganda Land Board as per the Restoration law through which government returned property belonging to cultural institutions.
Accused of dishonouring his position as minister and MP, Mr Kibuule was also quizzed in regard to death of a one Dickson Wasswa and detention of Golomolo LC I chairman, James Banda as well as engaging in transaction which violated the law.
But he testified saying: “In my own right as willing buyer, my interest was not in any way to hurt them. The bibanja holders are enjoying their legal rights and I know they have a right to stay undisturbed.”

Asked to respond to the horrendous story given by a widow, Sanyu Nassali about death of her husband, Wasswa who was forced to flee his home to stay in the bush before his arrest and torture, the minister denied knowledge of making any complaint to the police.
Apart from Mr Kibuule, the land under dispute is held by other illegal registered land owners include senior police officer, Mr Guston Twinamatsiko, businessman Musa Kateregga, Eldard Mugisha and a one Mbowa Mudasil.