Suspicion of Land Grabbing in Mbale City as Authorities Move Law Enforcement Offices
Meanwhile, a separate land grabbing concern has emerged at North Road Primary School, where a portion of the school’s land has been partitioned off with a chain link
Concerns are mounting in Mbale City following a directive from the City Council that ordered law enforcement officers to vacate their offices near the city’s grade one magistrate court.
Stakeholders are raising alarms over the possibility of land grabbing, fearing the sudden decision could open the door to unscrupulous land deals involving city authorities.
On January 16, former Town Clerk Ambrose Ocheng issued a letter directing the officers to leave their offices at Mbale Municipal Court and report to their respective division headquarters.
He cited a Clcouncil resolution for the closure of the enforcement offices at the court.
The abruptness of the order has raised questions about the future of the land.
Robert Kisesi, the Northern City Division Speaker, expressed concerns over the lack of a transparent explanation for the order.
Alongside other stakeholders, Kisesi fears that the move could be part of a scheme to allow land grabbers to seize one of the few remaining prime properties in the area, which is crucial for future development.
In response, Abdallah Magambo, the Deputy Speaker of Mbale City, defended the council’s actions, claiming the relocation was part of a strategy to improve monitoring and oversight.
He also noted that the judiciary had requested additional space for expansion. Magambo reassured the public that the land was secure, at least to his knowledge.
"The land is secure unless there is information we are not aware of as the council," he stated.
"But as far as I know, the land is safe."
Despite Magambo’s reassurances, skepticism continues to grow. Kisesi and other concerned parties are calling for clearer explanations and assurances that the land will be protected from any future attempts at illegal appropriation.
Some speculate that the land may already have been allocated to a development project under questionable circumstances.
Meanwhile, a separate land grabbing concern has emerged at North Road Primary School, where a portion of the school’s land has been partitioned off with a chain link.
Local community leaders and education advocates worry that the fencing is part of a larger plan to eventually seize the remaining land, with the school’s prime location making it a potential target for land grabbers.
These concerns are compounded by past incidents, including one where Mbale Municipality land was allegedly transferred illegally, leading to part of the Mbale Municipal Court land being carved off by city council staff.
As these events unfold, the residents of Mbale City remain on edge, questioning whether their land is truly safe from those seeking to profit at their expense.
