Key State House Insider Admits Land Grabbing Is Sometimes Orchestrated By Museveni’s Aides
Ms Phiona Barungi, who powerfully serves as Private Secretary to Gen Museveni in charge of Special Duties, made the shocking admission this Thursday during a Dr. Sam Mayanja-convened land baraza meeting that was held in Mpooma Village in Mukono District’s Naama Sub County.
Mayanja was here to respond to a petition by Soroti City-based Doctors Juventile & Elizabeth Emuku whose land (8 acres) had been grabbed by notorious area land dealer Hajjat Jamawa Nantuume (a sickly old lady) who turned round after selling the same to them.
Dr Elizabeth Emuku whose very prime land (8 acres) in Mpooma Mukono had been grabbed by Kifeesi actors impersonating State House.
Residents came in large numbers and gave evidence corroborating the fact that the land was Emukus’ because it was duly sold to them at Shs54m in 2008/2009 by Hajjat Jamawa Nantuume who went as far as introducing them to neighbors and LC1 officials as the new owners of the 8 acres which had previously been hers.TrendingKaramoja Leaders Demand For An Audit In OPM restocking Program
She received the money and signed onto the sales agreement except that she changed her mind and began playing hide and seek the moment she was required to tender her Identity Card to authenticate the transfer of ownership from her names to their names. Years later, Nantuume brought kanyamas around and began destroying the Emukus farm property claiming she was taking back her land because she realizes they had given her little money per acre.
The kanyamas were led by her own son called Moses who was aided by the area LC1 Chairman Constantine Serugo who one of the residents, an old man called Lawrence Mubiru, accused of trying to bribe them to turn against the Emukus yet Hajjat Jamawa Nantuume had introduced them to him as the new owners of the land after she pocketed their purchase price of Shs54m in 2008.
Serugo avoided Mayanja’s meeting claiming his eyes were paining though the Minister nevertheless ordered for his arrest for engagement in corruption and removal from office immediately.
Senior Presidential Assistant in charge of Special Duties Phiona Barungi
In their submissions at the baraza, local residents claimed how Hajjat Jamawa Nantuume brought kanyamas and kifeesi groups to terrorize and beat them up while demanding that they testify against Dr. Emuku. That the kifeesi groups that were terrorising people claimed to be from both State House and President’s Office and justified their torture acts by claiming they had been sent by State House to get the Mpooma Naama Mukono land for the family of a certain big man who they never disclosed.
That the same was reported to the Mukono Police leadership and the RDC Fatuma Ndisaba yet the two offices just ignored the whole thing as opposed to coming in to help the Emukus enforce their lawful claim and right to the land.
It was against this background that Ms Phiona Barungi, a lawyer, used the same meeting to defend the President and First Family saying they are never interested in anybody’s land. She explained that many such impostors have lately been identified and sent to Luzira for impersonating the President, his wife Janet Kataha, his son Gen MK and his daughters. That on four occasions, land grabbers successfully used Janet Museveni’s name to grab people’s land.
Ms Barungi asserted that the President had designated and deployed her to move with Dr. Mayanja to pick Intel on such impersonation claims so that culprits and perpetrators get immediately apprehended. She gave out her phone numbers saying people can report such impostors directly to her office for immediate action.
She explained that the President is aware there are some State House insiders who abusively use their supposed closeness to him and First Family to orchestrate land grabbing by offering cover to rogue-minded actors who continue terrorizing ordinary Ugandans in different parts of the country.
Ms Burungi admitted that it’s true some of the land grabbing by Hajjat Jamawa Nantuume-like rogue-minded actors is enabled by some State House employees who make themselves available to offer cover for land grabbers to successfully use the President’s name, that of State House or President’s Office.
She said she has been active in exposing such rogue-minded State House employees to the President which is why many of them hate her and are always out working hard to demonize her name and antagonize her with both the President and the ordinary people.
Key State House Insider Admits Land Grabbing Is Sometimes Orchestrated By Museveni’s Aides
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum