11 guards remanded over illegal occupation of contested land
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) magistrates court Thursday remanded a total of 11 private security guards to prison for illegally forcing themselves on a contested piece of land in Kampala city.
The 11 personnel attached to Magnum Security company appeared before grade one magistrate Edgar Karakire, who sent them to Luzira prison until March 20, when they will appear again.
The accused were arrested last week by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for illegally taking possession of the land belonging to a one late Johnson Eliba in a violent manner yet there was a temporary injunction on the property.
This contested property is located on Plot 106, Old Kira Road, Ntinda. Kampala city and it is said that some unscrupulous individuals with intentions to steal it deployed the said security guards.
It is alleged that when the guards were deployed, they violently evicted the owners and consequently guarded the property.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit revealed that on December 26, 2022, the family home of Eliba that was on the said land was demolished without a court order after a similar attack by people acting on the orders of one Yusuf Semakula.
It is said that the incident was investigated by the elite unit and the status quo (occupation of the property by the Eliba family) was to be maintained pending the conclusion of cases as to the ownership of the property at the Court of Appeal - which issued an interim injunction to that effect on December 23, 2023.
Despite the injunction, the court heard that Semakula on March 1, caused a second eviction of the family from the premises and deployed Magnum Security prompting action by state house.
