Mukono, Buikwe fight over village

Mukono and Buikwe districts leaders are fighting over who should collect taxes in Kikonde Village.

Leaders in the newly created Town Council of Namataba in Mukono District claim responsibility for valuation and taxing of businesses in the disputed land.

They accuse leaders of Lugazi Town Council under Buikwe District of crossing their boundaries and taxing the same businesses.

An earlier initiative by both districts to put in place signposts for demarcation were aborted after unknown individuals reportedly raided the area and removed the posts.

A district councillor representing Namataba and Nagojje town councils at Mukono District, Mr Davis Lukyamuzi, said his attempts to find an amicable solution with Lugazi Municipal Council authorities were ignored.

He said Lugazi authorities continue to tax businesses on land belonging to Mukono.

“The original boundary separating the two districts basing on the geographical area would have been at Uganda Military Engineers Brigade in Kitega but not in Kikondo as Buikwe authorities claim. Factories such as Tembo Steel Mills Company and Hoopoe Trading Company are located on land belonging to Mukono.

“The only mistake is that they (companies) now use postal addresses from Lugazi. When the revenue officials from Mukono get to this area, they are told that Buikwe officials have already taxed the businesses. This is very unfair,” Mr Lukyamuzi said in an interview at the weekend.

“We have had incidents where the signposts that Mukono authorities have erected were removed and the next day we see a signpost for Buikwe at Kikondo Village. We believe that this should not be happening when the two sides can meet and resolve their differences,” Mr Lukyamuzi added.

The Lugazi Municipal mayor, Mr Deo Tumwesigye, accused Mukono authorities of trespass.

“Authorities in Mukono do not know what they are complaining about. That area at Kikondo belongs to Buikwe. It is Lugazi Municipal Council that has been issuing and approving all the building plans, occupational permits, among other documents...,” Mr Tumwesigye said in an interview.

Mr Mathias Kigongo, the Buikwe District chairperson, said the wrangles started in 2013 after Hoopoe Trading Company complained about receiving double notes demanding licence and an environmental assessment report.

“We also have misunderstandings with Buvuma on the same issue for them they think Buikwe has no part in water, once you step in the water it is Buvuma yet the maps are clear,” Mr Kigongo said on Saturday.

Mukono District chairperson Andrew Ssenyonga said: “I heard that issue from one of my councillors but the only solution for that is to get a surveyor to resolve the problem.”