Makerere don demolishes father's house, old man now sleeps on veranda
GERALD MATEMBU
In a row that has captured national attention, Dr Tabitha Mulyampiti Ndegemu, a senior don at Makerere University this week decided to demolish the house in which she grew in, after she developed differences with her father, Jackson Mulyampiti.
Dr Ndegemu is a senior lecturer in the School of Women and Gender Studies.
The house is located in Kolonyi village, Namabasa parish, Mbale district.
The conflict stems way back in the 1980s after Ndegemu's mother abandoned the home to her co-wives after she developed differences with the husband.
However, recently, Ndegemu has been trying to forcefully return her mother home against the will of Mulyampiti. Ndegemu claims that the mother contributed towards the construction of the house.
She first succeeded by evicting the father from the house, earlier this year. The father and other family members then decided to move to the veranda. Jackson Mulyampiti also went to court challenging this eviction.
Before court could pronounce itself on the matter, Ndegemu is said to have decided to demolish the house, in the spirit of; we all lose.
The family now resides on the veranda of a near by incomplete building. They have constructed a small shelter from tarpaulins and mats to create some privacy and to shield themselves from the harsh weather.
Dr Tabitha Mulyampiti Ndegemu's step mother said the house was built when Ndegemu was 7 years.
"I took care of her as my daughter but she has paid me by making me to sleep on the veranda," she said.
Mzee Mulyampiti had petitioned court with the hope of regaining possession of the property but with the demolition, this effort could be in vain.
A team of clan leaders led by the chairperson Baikomba Itabangi clan, Fred Bob Wasugirya had visited the home to verify earlier media reports. They were shocked by what they saw.
"We intervened in this matter and we asked the family members to resolve it amicably, but our daughter went against our advice and made other connections and now this is the outcome. We are very disappointed," Wasugirya said.
Some residents told us that efforts to reconcile the parties have been futile due to lack of cooperation.
By press time Dr Ndegemu was not available for comment.
