RDC accuses family of grabbing govt land
Kiruhura Resident District Commissioner Aminadabu Muhindo (centre) and Mr Amos Kyangungu (in black suit) with other officials during the inspection of the disputed land last Friday. PHOTO BY FRED ANYINE
Kiruhura- The Kiruhura Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Mr Aminadabu Muhindo, is embroiled in a land row with Kyangungu family which he claims annexed government land in Kashenyi Village, Kayanga Parish in Kazo Sub-county.
Mr Muhindo was posted to Kiruhura in October last year.
Mr Amos Kyangungu, 79, is a retired veterinary assistant.
During a December meeting, the RDC allegedly told the district leaders that Mr Kyangungu had occupied about six hectares of government land that borders a valley dam.
Mr Kyangungu, however, maintains that he has owned the land since 1960 when the family acquired it and settled there.
Mr Muhindo claims he was tipped by concerned people about the encroachment on the land.
According to the Kyangungu family, Mr Muhindo is working with Mr David Kamusiime, the Gombolola Internal Security Officer (GISO) of the neigbouring Kazo Town Council and deputy district Internal Security Officer, Mr Happy Kyabahende, to deprive them of their land.
The officials first met the family members over the matter at the site on November 13 and later held a meeting on December 10 attended by local leaders including the mayor of Kazo Town Council, Mr Enock Nshemereirwe.
The security officers have reportedly been at the site twice without involving or informing the Kyangungu family.
On Friday, Mr Muhindo convened the third meeting involving local political leaders, government officials and the Kyangungu family.
“We are securing government land; the dam is on government land and you agree, we are saying there is more than that which we are trying to ascertain,” Mr Muhindo said.
However, Mr Abraham Kyangungu, the son to Mzee Kyangungu, said Mr Muhindo was being used by malicious people to disorganise and dispossess the family of its land.
“Our family has lived here for more than 60 years. What is said to be rubbles of government houses in this section are actually our homestead. It is where the family lived before the homestead was shifted,” Mr Abraham said.
He added: “There is no document showing that this is government land. Our land has mark stones, a title; it’s registered we have its map. If they want the land, let them go to court. The RDC should not accept to be misled; he has been in the district for only three months. Touring our land without our knowledge is unacceptable.”
The area LC1 chairman, Mr Colleb Rukumba, said they know Mr Kyangungu as the owner of the land.
“We received circular to gazette all government land and we put up these boundaries on the land around the dam. The rest of the land belongs to Mr Kyangungu, we never interfered because everybody in the community knows it,” Mr Rukumba said.
The LC5 chairperson, Mr Sam Katugunda, said he missed the meeting because of other engagements.
“If government puts a project on your land, it doesn’t mean that it owns the land. If Chinese are constructing roads and establish camp on your land that doesn’t mean the land is for government. If the land hosted tsetse fly control project at that time, it doesn’t mean it’s government land. We have to be fair,” Mr Katugunda said.
