A 75-year-old woman in Nakaseke District has appealed to government authorities to intervene in a land dispute involving her son, whom she accuses of evicting her from land left to her by her late husband.
Betty Asiimwe, a resident of Kavule Village in Kyasampanga Parish, Kikamulo Sub-county, claims her son, Steven Zimbe, a teacher at a school in Kampala, forcefully chased her away from the land and has since blocked her from accessing or cultivating it.
“I am asking the government to rescue me from my own son who has chased me away from the land my husband left for me,” Asiimwe said. “My late husband gave me written documents proving that the land belongs to me and that I have full authority over it.”
According to Asiimwe, her late husband, Kayondo Ecoyaasi, settled her on the land in 1990 when it was still bushy and undeveloped.
She says she worked tirelessly to cultivate and develop the property alongside her husband until his death.
“My husband brought me to this land when it was still bush. I started farming it and we developed it together,” she explained.
“Before he died, he prepared written documents confirming that he had given me ownership of the land. He only requested that if our son, Steven Zimbe, ever wanted to farm on part of it, I should allow him, but without giving him ownership or authority.”
However, Asiimwe alleges that her decision to allow her son to farm on part of the land later turned against her.
“Since I allowed him to cultivate there, he has been threatening and chasing me away. Now he has completely stopped me from accessing the land,” she said. “I reported the matter to the police, but I have not received any help.”
The elderly woman further claims that her son destroyed her crops, including coffee, leaving her without a source of livelihood.
“I had planted food crops and coffee, but everything was destroyed after he denied me access to the land,” she added.
Asiimwe has now appealed to several government officials, including Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba Mayanja, Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja, and Nakaseke Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Rose Byabashaija, to intervene and help restore her rights.
Local residents have also expressed concern over the matter, supporting Asiimwe’s claims and urging authorities to act swiftly.
Godfrey Katongole, one of the residents, said, “Steven knows very well that the old woman is the rightful owner of the land. What he is doing is simply an attempt to evict her unfairly.”
Residents further revealed that the Nakaseke RDC, Rose Byabashaija, previously visited the area and promised to follow up on the matter, but they say she has not yet returned.
Efforts to obtain a response from Steven Zimbe said that the allegations are not true and he is looking forward to settle with his mother and get the solution.
