UPDF land grabbers plotting my downfall, says Nantaba

Kayunga. Lands state minister Aidah Nantaba has said some wealthy people, including high-ranking Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers, involved in illegal land evictions across the country are plotting her political downfall in next year’s elections.
Without giving names, the minister claimed the generals are plotting to sponsor her political opponents in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
“Because I have frustrated their plan of grabbing your land, they have now resolved to do whatever they can so that I don’t return to Parliament. They have already started dishing out money to whoever wants to stand against me, but I am not shaken,” Ms Nantaba, who is also the Kayunga Woman MP, said.
She added: “Despite the suffering I am going through including attaching my salary, I will not relent, but what I need is your support.”
The minister was speaking during a consultative meeting in Kitimbwa Trading Centre, Wabwoko Sub-county, Kayunga District, at the weekend.
When contacted, UPDF spokesperson Paddy Ankunda said he was not aware of any UPDF officer involved in acts of land grabbing in Kayunga.
“But if it is true any general is involved in such acts, it’s unacceptable because these officers should follow the law in acquiring land. However, they have a right to own land,” Col Ankunda said. He also urged the minister to produce a report over the matter.

NANTABA’S WOES

Ms Nantaba, who has been in Parliament for only one term, rose to fame recently after being appointed minister, a position she has used to champion the fight against illegal land evictions in central region.
However, this came at a cost with several land lords suing her for alleged illegal cancellation of their land titles and giving out their land to tenants. Early this year, the High Court in Kampala attached her salary over a Shs23.7 million debt.
The money arose out of court costs awarded to Mr Abbey Kiberu last November by Judge Alphonse Owiny-Dollo. This followed Mr Kiberu’s successful petition to quash Ms Nantaba’s orders to give away his 38-acre piece of land in Wasozi Kitende Village, Wakiso District, to another family.