Ministers Namuganza, Ecweru cited in Kyangwali land row

JULIUS BAKABAAGE

Locals in Kyangwali sub county, Kikuube district have claimed that Persis Namuganza, the minister of state for Land and Musa Ecweru, the minister of state for Disaster Preparedness are behind the rampant land evictions in the area.

The residents made the claim over the weekend during a meeting with Lt Col Edith Nakalema, the head of the Anti Corruption Unit.

Nakalema travelled to the area over the weekend, under the orders of President Museveni, and met families that had been evicted from Bukinda and Kasonga parishes.

In a meeting held with a selected group of residents of Bukinda parish, the locals informed Nakalema that the ministers working with officials from the Office of the Prime Minister led by one Charles Bafaki had hatched a plot to take their 36 square kilometres of land which hosts over 25,000 people.

They also accused Bafaki of forcing them to register as refugees. Locals also informed Nakalema of the bribery involved in the process of resettling people.

Nakalema at first ordered for the arrest of the Kyangwali OC station for neglect and abuse of office but she later rescinded the order after locals pleaded on the OC's behalf.

However the area GISO, Harrington Asaba was arrested and taken to Kampala together with another officer attached to the OPM a one Felix Tumuhimbise.

Nakalema later visited the locals who were arrested in connection with the land problems at police stations of Kyangwali, Kikuube and Hoima respectively. She informed locals that she was sent by the president to ascertain what's on ground and promised to report back to him.

Locals told Nakalema that Kyangwali already has 50 aquare miles of land under settlement.

They wonder why Bafaki and company are grabbing their land when a big chunk of the 50 square miles is still vacant.