Kalangala town leaders, investor clash over land

Area. The piece of land that has created a conflict between Kalangala Town Council leaders and the management of Kalangala Infracture Services, a private firm that partnered with government to develop the island district. PHOTO BY SYLVESTER SSEMUGENYI

A row has erupted between Kalangala Town Council leaders and the management of Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd (KIS) over ownership of a prime piece of land.

The disputed land that measures 30 acres is comprised of Block 54, Plots 18 and 26 at Ssozi Village, Kalangala Town Council.

Although KIS Ltd said they lawfully acquired the land, the town council leadership led by the principal town clerk, Ms Margaret Nkata, insisted they are trespassing on public land.

In an October 1 letter, Ms Nkata said KIS had illegally accessed the land, surveyed it, put there metallic and concrete land marks on top of cutting down all pine trees that were planted to mark the boundaries.

“By this letter, your officer is required to replant all the council trees that your organisation cut down in a bid to alter and confiscate council land and remove all the concrete and metallic land marks that were placed in this land within a period of 14 days or council is to seek redress over this matter,” the letter reads.

In a rejoinder, KIS managing director, Mr John Opondo, confirmed surveying the disputed land saying it was done after receiving information that unknown people were trespassing on it.

“Following receipt of the surveyor’s report, KIS cleared all the encroaching items that were found on its property,” Mr Opondo said in the one-page letter dated October 17.

“KIS maintains that its actions carried out in respect to its land were lawful contrary to the allegations in your [town council] letter,” the letter added.

However, Mr Opondo said they are ready to conduct a joint survey on the boundary with Kalangala Town Council officials to resolve the impasse.

KIS is a private firm which signed a public-private partnership with government in 2013 to spur economic growth in Kalangala District.

The $50 million ( about Shs185.3b) public-private partnership scheme facilitated by KIS is focusing on providing standard marine transport services, clean water access, electricity and roads construction.

Mr Joseph Mulindwa, the KIS public relations officer, said they secured the land to establish a second solar power plant in addition to the one at Bukuzinda Village in Mugoye Sub-county.

“We got that piece of land after getting clearance from the district land board, we plan to establish a second solar power plant that can boost electricity supply in Kalangala Town Council and other neighbouring areas such as Mwena, Lutoboka and Bujjumba. We have even processed a land title and we wonder why they [town council], claim ownership of the same land,” Mr Mulindwa said.
Mr Joseph Ssembulira, a councillor representing Mwena –Ssozi Parish in Kalangala Town Council, said the land was given to the town council by the district land board 10 years ago.

“We are taking KIS to court for encroaching on public land and destroying our trees. Such fraudulent land acquisition cannot be tolerated,” Mr Ssembulira said.

The Kalangala District chairperson, Mr Willy Lugoloobi, said by the time KIS expressed interest in the land, the district land board had already offered a lease to the town council.

“It is true KIS was promised more land to carry out their projects and at one time, we thought about that land at Ssozi Village, but the town council had already applied for a lease to utilise the same land for a cemetery and a slaughter house,” Mr Lugoloobi said.