Rubanda church holds 'crisis mass' to save land from encroachers

The Rubanda Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Eric Sewandigi, gave the directive following a crisis mass held at the playground.

RUBANDA | Authorities in Rubanda District have halted activities on a disputed playground at Nyakatugunda in Rubanda Town Council following accusations by Christians of Kabirizi Catholic Parish in Kabale Diocese that some persons were encroaching on the land.

The Rubanda Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Eric Sewandigi, gave the directive following a crisis mass held at the playground.

The mass, under heavy security, was presided over by the Kabirizi Parish priest, the Rev Fr Prosper Turyahabwe, and assisted by Rev Fr Zaverio Tindimwebwa.

The parishioners led by their priests accuse Rubanda mayor Norman Tushabe and Gerevazio Begumisa, father of Rubanda District Woman MP Prossy Mbabazi, and a one Fred Kharata Rwegyemerea of trying to parcel the 20-acre playground land for themselves.

MP Mbabazi last week came under scrutiny for alleged corruption and abuse of office after pocketing Shs400 million as a backbench Parliamentary Commissioner in a case that has led to a bitter fallout within Opposition majority party National Unity Platform whose former LoP Mathias Mpuuga is accused of pocking Shs500m under the so-called service reward.

The playground is located in four villages in Nyakabungo and Nyaruhanga wards in Rubanda Town council. The claimants say it was only given to the church in 1985.

“We call on police to provide security to people and their property,” the priests said.

While speaking to the congregation, Rubanda district leadership led by RDC Sewandigi and Jane Mary Tushemerirwe halted all parties with immediate effect to stop all activities that were taking place on the contested land.

They further say that Christians should maintain security.

“We are going to sit down as a committee and find possible solutions to the problem," the Rubanda officials said.

Abel Barugahare, the district commander called on the people to stop insisting violence adding that they should also work with police closely.

He adds that land issues in country are at an increase.

Baruhahare argues the community to be patient and leave the law to take its course.

In a phone interview, Mayor Tushabe said the church has no official complaint, adding the he was surprised when he heard about the crisis mass.

He insists the land rightly belongs to them adding that they are ready to go to court for justice.

“The land rightly belongs to us if they are not contended, let us go to court," Tushabe said.

Efforts to get a comment from Rwegyemera and Begumisa were futile since they did not pick our reporters' phone calls, while Tushabe insisted that they acquired the land genuinely.

As the mass came to an end, the Christians planted a cross in the middle of the land.