Nantaba blocked from visiting Mukono land

The land in dispute is being fought over by local residents and Buziranjovu Development Company Limited, a private firm.

Kampala

The Land Division of the High Court has temporarily stopped the State Minister for lands, Ms Ida Nantaba, from visiting the disputed 1,423 acres of land in Mukono District to ascertain ownership.

Ms Nantaba has also been summoned by the registrar of the court to appear in court on Monday next week when the matter will be heard. The summons were issued on Monday by assistant registrar Alex Ajiji.

The land in question is being fought over by the local residents and Buziranjovu Development Company Limited, a private firm. The company managing director, Mr Jonathan Wright, had filed a petition after allegedly receiving a letter from the minister, informing him of her intended visit to the disputed land.

Complaints
In the letter, the minister reportedly claimed to have received complaints from “lawful” occupants of the land, accusing Mr Wright of fencing off their land, demolishing their houses and imprisoning some of them.

The complainants also accused him of ordering one of his guards to shoot at the residents opposed to his attempts to reclaim the land.

Mr Wright contends that on November 16, 2005, he obtained a 99-year lease agreement for the land and two certificates of title were created and obtained. And at the time, he claims, there were no tenants, whether lawful or bonifide, residing on the said land.

“I have performed all my obligations relating to ownership of this land and I am not in any way in debt with the State Minister or any other person,” Mr Wright notes in the petition. But according to the investors, they claim the minister is determined to evict them from the land and give it to the local residents.

Mr Wright, in his law suit, claims this move by the minister will cause irreparable damage and loss to his company which has vast developments there on.

bndagire@ug.nationmedia.com