Police have warned against carrying out land evictions during the festive season, saying no individual will be allowed to evict occupants at a time when courts of law are closed.
Addressing the media, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said any evictions conducted during this period would be deemed illegal and those involved would face the full force of the law.
“Do not carry out evictions during Christmas when you know courts of law are closed,” Kituuma said.
He explained that the festive season often leaves victims with limited access to justice, a situation that unscrupulous individuals exploit to unlawfully evict people from their land.
Kituuma emphasised that all land disputes must follow due legal process, noting that only courts of law have the mandate to issue eviction orders. He warned that police would not provide security for evictions carried out outside the law.
The warning comes amid renewed concern over rising cases of land grabbing across the country. President Museveni recently faulted the surge in land evictions in the Bunyoro sub-region on elected leaders, accusing them of failing to protect their constituents.
The President questioned how leaders, from local council officials to Members of Parliament, allow evictions to occur under their watch, suggesting that some are either complicit or ineffective.
Museveni also alleged that some leaders abandon land-related cases after being bribed, choosing personal gain over defending the rights and livelihoods of citizens.
Authorities have reiterated that any eviction must strictly follow legal procedures and be sanctioned by a competent court, urging the public to report illegal evictions to the police.
