Parliament demands govt answer on Lusanja eviction

Kampala. The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has instructed the executive to explain the plight of people, trapped and living in tents after mass evictions in Lusanja.
Last month, labourers hired by a court bailiff on behalf of a one Medard Kiconco stormed Lusanja on the Mpererwe-Kiteezi Road in Kampala and knocked down several buildings, leaving more than 300 families homeless.
President Museveni later visited the place and ordered everyone, including displaced persons living in tents, to stay put.
The legislature now wants the government to provide a clear pathway to resolve the impasse and end the plight of the affected people.
“What is the government waiting for [to resolve the problem],” Speaker Kadaga said, adding, “that (eviction) is a clear crime and the man [who evicted the people]is walking freely.”
In response, First Deputy Prime minister Gen Moses Ali, who doubles as the deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, said the state’s hand is tied because the High Court duly authorised the eviction.
“I want to inform the House that two days ago, I held a meeting with some ministers and law firms of those who evicted the people as well as the affected community; but the situation is that, these people were evicted after a High Court order,” he said.
The Speaker, however, said something was ominous because “court orders are not supposed to be executed after 6pm, on a weekend [and] at night”.
Both Ms Kadaga and Gen Ali are lawyers, although they spoke at cross purposes on the same matter.
The Speaker was responding to concerns raised by Kawempe North MP Latif Sebaggala.
He said the evictees are Ugandans and require justice, including returning their children to school.
“The tents that were given are four; you find over ten families sharing one tent, ” MP Sebaggala said.
Gen Ali said some arrangements are underway to resolve the impasse, including provision of relief items by Disaster Preparedness ministry.
He said Cabinet is awaiting guidance from the Attorney General, the chief government legal adviser, before they can pronounce themselves on the matter.
Gen Ali finally asked the Speaker to grant the Executive up to Thursday, next week, as the government explores an amicable solution between the feuding parties.