By our reporter
Lands minister, Judith Nabakooba has intervened in Kasanje land issue in Wakiso District and issued directives meant to restore sanity in the area.
The dispute is between the family of Dr James William Rwanyarare, former landlord, and Home Connect Properties (U) Limited, (current landlord) on one hand, tenants and new landlord on the other hand.
“Halt all transactions and operations taking place. We have realized
there is a lot of misinformation and the leaders seem to be dishonest to their communities,” minister said during Ssazi village meeting with residents on August 12.
The contested land measuring 635 acres sits on three villages, stretching from Ssazi-Lulongo zone, Gayaza-Nangombe village to Namugala, all located in Kasanje Town Council.
According to residents, the conflicts erupted after Home Connect Properties hired graders to clear people’s land before compensation, creating eviction panic among the tenants.
Nabakooba highlighted the need to sensitize communities on their land rights, noting that even the affected communities may also not know about such rights.
She asked both parties to seize fire to allow police and local leaders to investigate the matter and produce a report to ascertain the status of this land.
“We have realised there are court cases going on and court is yet to determine on the issue of ownership. Much as Home Connect has a title, it was challenged by some of the family members,” she stressed.
Ms Caroline Kahamutima, daughter of Rwanyarare, the original owner of the land, said their brother Kevin Kiiza Rwanyarare forged powers of attorney and connived with Home Connect Properties to make transactions on the land.
“He used forged documents and went to the ministry claiming to have lost the title of this land and applied for a special title when none of the family members was aware,” she revealed.
The family protested all the ongoing activities, challenging ownership of the new landlord on their land saying “Home Connect owns this land fraudulently and we condemn all the activities taking place on our land.”
Efforts to get a comment from Kiiza for allegedly conniving with land dealers to sale off his father’s land went futile as he was a no-show in the meeting neither could he pick our phone calls.
Ms Kahamutima said they rushed the case to court pending ruling to cancel the title and reclaim ownership of their land.
“Our father is on good terms with all his tenants and has never chased anyone.”
Home Connect manager, Charles Ssemakula said they acquired this land one and a half years ago and are on good terms with all the Bibanja holders, trashing claims that they are chasing them.
“We called them asking whoever is interested in getting a title, we are willing to offer it on agreement. You either buy yourself or allow us to take part of your land,” he told the minister.
Ssazi village chairperson Vincent Kalule distanced himself from the conflicts saying that he has never stamped or issued any agreement to tenants involving Home Connect.
However, his statement was contested by the majority of the locals who say he has been working with Home Connect ever since they took over their area.
A section of residents pinned Home Connect for clearing their land before compensation rendering them homeless after reportedly buying the land at Shs5 billion.
Ms Mary Nakibuuka said half of her eight acre plot was cleared by Home Connect, promising her a land title in one week but she is yet to receive it.
“When you try to challenge them, they intimidate us yet our food was all destroyed without any compensation,” she said.
Mr Mukwasi Wasike, another tenant, told the minister that Home Connect refused to accept nominal ground rent (Busuulu) yet it is well indicated in the law.
“They destroy our garden and when you reach out to them to compensate you, they threaten you.”
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