Local chiefs accused of selling kingdom land

LYANTONDE- Tension is simmering between residents of Kakuuto Village in Lyantonde District and Kabaka’s local chiefs in the area over land, Daily Monitor has established.

Residents accuse some of Kabaka’s local chiefs of selling off land belonging to the kingdom.

They claim the chiefs have evicted some sitting tenants from their ancestral land and leased it to moneyed developers in the district.
“We are inviting the Katikkiro [kingdom premier] to investigate these ongoing suspicious land dealings by Kabaka’s chiefs. And if no steps are taken, we are likely to see bloody chaos in this area,” Ms Beatrice Mbabazi, the chairperson of Kakuuto Village, said during an interview at the weekend .

Although a series of meetings have been held between residents and one of the developers, Mr Deziderio Ndaza, who has interest in the 49 acre piece of land at Kakuuto Village, the former still insist they have been unfairly treated. The disputed land in Biwolobo Parish holds more than 350 households. Also facing eviction is Biwolobo Primary School, Biwolobo Trading Centre and parish headquarters.

Documents seen by Daily Monitor indicate that Mr Ndaza was allocated 2.5 acres on August 6, 2018 by the chiefs in Kabula County (Lyantonde District), although residents insist he is interested in the entire 49 acres.

Ms Mbabazi wondered why Kabaka officials give away land which has sitting tenants to private developers without involving local leaders.
“I have been a tenant on this land for more than 40 years, where do they expect us to go?” Ms Mbabazi, who is also among the affected residents, asked. Mr Joseph Ssemakula, also a resident, said he has occupied the land since 1935 and has since registered with Buganda Land Board (BLB) to legalise his tenancy. “I paid Shs100, 000 to register my kibanja with Buganda Kingdom in 2016, how come developers are emerging now and want to grab our land?” Mr Semakula asked.

Mr Joseph Bukenya claims that Kabaka’s chiefs had told them that they gave away part of the land to developers to raise money to build parish headquarters.

“Kabaka chiefs assured us that they were giving away only part of the school land to raise money for construction of parish headquarters, but we are surprised to learn that all the land was parceled out to an individual,” Mr Bukenya said.

While meeting affected residents last week Mr Nathan Kasozi, the officer-in-charge of lands and development in Kabula- County, advised to them to legalise their tenancy or face eviction.

“Land has to be documented, without documents you cannot claim to have land. Kabula County will work closely with BLB to resolve the matter,” Mr Kasozi said.

Mr Joseph Sunday Lubega, the Kabaka’s local chief at the parish level, who witnessed the land give-away, asked residents to remain calm, saying none of them will be evicted.

“Our people are just misled by some individuals with ill intentions. Even the parish headquarters, many have been complaining about, will be constructed on the same land, indicating that the land is still intact,” he said.

Mr Ndaza urged residents to embrace development, saying what he plans to put up on the land will directly benefit the entire community.
Mr Francis Mugumya Ntambaazi, the Kabaka’s chief in-charge of Kabula County declined to comment on the matter, saying he had authorised Mr Kasozi to handle the matter.

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