There was outrage among families of ex-prisoners occupying prime land in Luzira in Nakawa Division following controversial orders by the Resident City Commissioner(RCC) for Kampala regarding ownership and occupation.
On Thursday evening Jane Asiimwe Muhindo, the senior RCC for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) ruled that no one has a right to evict another without an eviction order issued by Courts of law.
The RCC quickly added that a person or company with a land title has a right to fence off the same land and also use it.
"The land owner (referring to Emmaus Foundation Investment Limited) as per the court order for now wants to do some work but as per status, there are works and we are saying what activities does he want to do so long as they do not disrupt those in occupation and peace" Muhindo stated sparking anger and questions from families of former prisoners who presented documents indicating that they were allocated the same land in 1997 by Uganda Prison Service.
The ex-convicts under the United Reformed Persons Association (UREPA) and their families are currently occupying the land at Plot 1, third Ring Road, Luzira in Nakawa Division where they are operating carpentry and metal fabrication, timber stalls as well as residences.
Muhindo, who made orders without referring to the history and documents presented to her, asked those on land to maintain peaceful co-existence.
The RCC made statements in the absence of her deputy in charge of Nakawa Division and the DISO citing a court order.
She chaired a meeting only in the presence of police officers from Jinja Road and under the watch of anti-riot police.
The order was presented by directors of Emmaus Foundation Investment Limited led by Martin Barigye who accused the members of UREPA and Karago Construction and Engineering Limited.
The court order was issued in the case of Emmaus Foundation Investments Limited against Uganda Land Commission, the Commissioner Land Registration and Karago Construction and Engineering Limited.
The complaining company challenged the decision of Uganda Land Commission to cancel their title and court quashed.
The court also issued an order restraining Uganda Land Commission and its employees from re-entering the said land and or reallocate it to Karago construction and Engineering Limited.
Documents show that the same order has since been appealed to challenge the decision of the High Court.
However, the director of Karago Construction and Engineering Limited jointly with the members of UREPA protested the orders saying there is no order granting ownership nor eviction power over the said land.
At a security meeting convened by the RCC at the disputed Land, it also emerged that Karago construction and Engineering limited has since sued Emmaus foundation Limited and Emmaus Foundation Investments Limited over fraudulent and illegal acquisition of the lease on the land occupied by ex-prisoners and their families for now more than two decades.
Rachael Namugga, one of the widows of ex-prisoners, Engwamu Dominic, cried foul over the manner in which authorities have handled their case.
She said that the land was allocated by Uganda Prisons to her late husband and others after they were released and that they are shocked that their neighbours, Emmaus Foundation Limited who was contracted and paid to construct the workshops is now behind the claim for ownership of the same.
Ali Farage, the Vice Chairman of UREPA objected to the RCC orders saying it was ambiguous.
"How can you make orders to implement when the court said differently? This is unacceptable for one to come and make orders against the interests of the bonafide occupant“ said Farage appealing to Dr Sam Mayanja the lands junior minister and Milly Babirye Babalanda the minister for presidency to intervene and prevail over the RCC.
Geoffrey Baguma, a director of Karago construction and Engineering Limited said that the RCC acted under influence because she accepted orders without being guided properly.
"The RCC called for a meeting and we presented all the documents for her to read and understand. These matters are still in court but the way she came rushing in the evening all raise questions, "he wondered.
According to Baguma, there is no order declaring ownership of the said land nor order for eviction which all create confusion in the case.
Records show that the land was allocated to ex-prisoners for rehabilitation and vocational projects as well as creating employment for ex-convicts by the Uganda Prisons Service during the reign of the Commissioner General, Joseph Etima in 1997.
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