Residents of Kaasangombe Village in Wakiso District will now have some peaceful sleep after Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, has issued directives to protect hundreds of affected people from illegal eviction .
This after it was revealed that lease for the disputed land had expired . “The law is very clear, if the lease expires, the occupants have a right to apply and get a title. Let no one intimidate you, the land now belongs to the current occupants,” Nabakooba stated .
At a baraza the minister held with the affected families , she assured the residents that the National Resistance Movement is committed to helping all tenants acquire full ownership of their land through the Land Fund.
“One of the government’s commitments in the NRM manifesto is to assist tenants register their occupancy rights and where possible, use the land fund to upgrade their occupancy rights to land ownership rights through acquisition of land titles,” she told the Wakiso residents.
Nabakaooba also sensitised the public about the online land information system portal that fosters land search services, noting that government generates Shs300 billion from land transactions.
She urged the public to ensure they use their land productively, to elevate their living standards and fend for their families. “Use your land so that you join the money economy. Embrace government programs and acquire money to develop your land.”
The Baraza followed complaints from the residents that they were being illegally evicted by a businessman called Stephen Wobweni, who claimed ownership of 19 acres of their land.
The disputed land located on Block 266/267, Plot 121 in Busiro County.
Ms Proscovia Nakato, one of the affected residents of Kaasangombe, reported to the minister that the suspected land grabber on September 10, 2024, reportedly hired police and army officers and forcefully conducted boundary opening on the land.
The men in uniform reportedly harassed and brutally beat up a group of demonstrating residents who tried to protest the exercise. “We were beaten. Women were undressed in front of their children as they conducted boundary opening,” she said.
According to Mr Twaibu Kafuuma, the chairperson of Kaasangombe, in December 2020, Wobweni approached him claiming ownership of the land and wanted to be allowed to do boundary opening.
