Xavier Radio Ug News 24 7
Post Views: 2
By Moses Andama.in Masindiwww.mknewslink.com—-Resident from 3 villages on Thursday afternoon ran to the office of RDC Masindi Darius Nandida seeking for his intervention over what they termed as increased land grabbers in the district.
The affected villages are Kyamaiso, Nyakaitete in Bwijanga sub county and Kyangamoyo in Kijunjubua town council.
The land in dispute is estimated to be 170 acres whose ownership is claimed by Ahamed Sewagude.
Speaking to media after mediation meeting convened by RDC Darius Nandida between the one claiming the ownership Ahamed Sewagude and residents plus the leaders, the residents who claim Sewagude is a land grabber claiming he wants to forcefully evict them basing on court order and fake documents.
Cleouphous Isingoma one of the residents says his grand father occupied the land since 1965, and during civil war he decided to relocate somewhere and left someone by names of late Emmanuel Oriyo as care taker Lugbara by tribe as they were still young.
He adds that when they grew up, they knew that there were people who were living on the land of their ancestral land peacefully and had no issues but they got surprised just of recent from no where to see Sewagude starting to disturb those living on the land claiming he has court order to evict them something they don’t agree with.
Isingoma adds that as residents they don’t know Sewagude apart from his late father Zachariah Lyazi who is also far away from the land the son (Sewagude) is claiming the ownership. he appealed to government to intervene since land grabbers have invaded the area stealing people’s land.
Sylvia Kurungi Sylvia resident who also doubles as direct female councillor Nyahgha Division to the district says they were not happy with court decision allowing Sewagude to own the land.
Kurungi says Sewagude wants to evict people from the entire village with over 150 home steads, where he fast started by harassing the care takers where some arrested and has now again involved section of 3rd people whom he is accusing of occupying the 170 acres claiming it’s ownership.
“Sewagude has made several people be arrested and some imprisoned and others way about not known, we condemn this act of land grabbers using money to grab lands from rightful owners and we shall not accept this to happen to our people Karungi stressed”
Ahamed Sewagude on his response says historically they are the owners of the land and have all papers concerning about the land
Sewagude adds that it was his request to RDC to call the concerned people for mediation since he had no rights to abruptly evict saying since they failed to agree on with them, he won’t have any engagement with them apart from meeting at court.
James Mudede chairman LC3 Bwijanga subcounty says he was approached by Sewagude over the issue of land when he assumed office in 2021 where he advised him to go to court and as well RDC’S office who is the chairman of security at the district.
Mudede however advised the two parties to seat and harmonize the matter since Sewagude is living on his land as well as the residents.
Darius Nandida RDC Masindi on his side says he summoned residents, of the affected areas and leaders including councillors to his office, while in office, he posed questions to all of them inquiring whether they are living on Sewagude’s land so that they can find away of helping them basing on presidential directives.
Nandinda adds that basing on mutual understanding, people denied completely that they do not live on his land and the land belongs to them.
RDC says after people denying, he then told Sewagude it’s hard to help him by either ordering for opening of boundaries or locust visit since he doesn’t have any prove and advised him to go to court.
He however says that after court decision, they will refer to presidential directives incase he gets eviction order and also has to bring it to RDC’S office, IGP where they will still have to agree on how people who have lived there for many years are going to be accupied despite claiming to be the owner of the land besides eviction order.
