AG ordered eviction of Muhangi family - police
Contested. Police officers deploy at the contested Qualicel Bus Terminal land while enforcing the eviction order against the family of late Charles Muhangi in downtown, Kampala, recently. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- Background. Police evicted the family of the deceased businessman from the contested property yesterday and handed it over to rival Drake Lubega.
Kampala. Police have said the eviction of the family of deceased Kampala businessman Charles Muhangi from the disputed Qualicel Bus Park on Nakivubo Road yesterday was on the orders of the Attorney General (AG).
Mr Enanga said Mr William Byaruhanga wrote to the Inspector General of Police on January 23, ordering the eviction of Muhangi’s family that had retaken the occupancy four months ago following a Constitutional Court ruling.
“The communication came from the Attorney General who came up with an opinion following the meeting held at his chambers,” Mr Enanga said.
The eviction took place yesterday at 11am. Mr Drake Francis Lubega, who has had running court battles with the family of the late Muhangi since 2006, was given possession of the property. Police and the military kept watch during the exercise, roughly two months after Muhangi’s sudden death.
When we contacted Mr Byaruhanga yesterday, he promised to “get back” but did not.
The two warring parties held a series of meetings on January 29 and February 14 chaired by Mr Byaruhanga at his office where Mr Lubega offered Shs3 billion as compensation but Muhangi family spurned the offer. The disputed property is estimated to be worth more than Shs122b. According to a source that attended the meeting, a dozen people, including the lawyer representing Muhangi’s family, Mr Severino Twinobusingye, attended.
President Museveni had instructed the AG and the State House legal officer, Ms Flora Kiconco, to investigate the matter and give him a report. Last year, Mr Museveni met the two parties before Muhangi’s death. Seeking redress in court has not helped either side, the President reportedly told them, and advised that an out-of-court solution was a better option.
Both parties said at the end of the meeting that they wanted to get the President’s opinion on the matter before resuming mediation.
On Tuesday, Police’s Director for Legal Affairs Erasmus Twaruhuka ordered the Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander to evict the Muhangi family.
