Bunyoro bishop says locals 'using sympathy' to grab land from the rich

Bishop Kahuma said religious institutions in Bunyoro are also at the mercy of such suspected unscrupulous persons.

The Bishop of Bunyoro-Kitara Diocese, the Rev Canon Samuel Kahuma, has raised concerns that locals "have made it a habit" to encroach on "rich people's land" and later "make noise" for public sympathy from the public.

Bishop Kahuma said religious institutions in Bunyoro are also at the mercy of such suspected unscrupulous persons.

Kahuma acknowledged that land grabbing was mainly perpetuated by rich and connected people but said he has noticed a pattern where the pyramid is inverted.

Sometimes, he said, well-to-do or rich rightful land owners are overpowered by locals trumping sympathy cards.

"If you are going to understand land matters, then you need to see it in two directions," Kahuma said.

"I have seen most people being sympathetic to evicted people, but some don't own land. Land grabbing by locals started way back and as a church we have suffered a lot [with land grabbers]."

He said some people come from wherever and occupy land, citing a case in Kibaale where the diocese has a land titled but "when we went there we nearly lost lives and we were saved by police, yet we are landlords".

The discovery of oil in Bunyoyo has exacerbated land grabbing in the sub-region as rich connected persons have forged career in claiming and evicting people from land located near oil exploration areas, especially in the districts of Buliisa, Kikuube and Hoima that have direct prospects.

But at a time when most people are being sympathetic to the local claimants, Bishop Kahuma has cautioned those handling land matters to tread carefully.

"Most of these people, because they are many, they will make noise and they will be listened especially by politicians because to them it's votes," he said.

"Local people need to stop that habit as well."

However, Kahuma lashed out at rich and connected people who grab and cause eviction of rightful land owners, especially those who connive with government officials.

"As a church, we condemn that habit by rich people who go use their dubious ways and acquire land titles," he said.

"All of a sudden, someone comes with a title in a place where people have lived for lifetime and his title is three years, how can this be? It must stop, let Ugandans have peace on their land," Kahuma added.

The State Minister for Houseing, Persis Namuganza, who was in Bunyoro for her Easter Holiday, told Nile Post that there was progress made by the ministry, including verification and cancellation of fake land titles.

"While I was in lands [ministry], I noted a number of fake land titles, so when my colleague [Dr Sam Mayanja] took over I shared with him, and we are verifying all titles and those that were printed without following the law are being cancelled," Namuganza said.

She said that given the magnitude of the problem, State minister for lands Sam Mayanja is meant to designate about two weeks in Bunyoro to deal with land-related matters to logical conclusions.

"We know how big the problem of land grabbing is, there are plans for Dr Mayanja coming here for two weeks to deal with land matters in Bunyoro," she said.

"We can't allow Ugandans to become landless under the few rich and commented people. No one is above the law, when you are threatened on your land, just report to our offices," the inister added.

Namuganza urged the locals not to be intimidated by security forces when it comes to land matters, saying Police and the military are all institutions of government whose mandate is to protect Ugandans.