The tenants inherited the pieces of land from their grandfathers and others from their fathers since the 1920s. The land belonged to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and was managed by the Nkuluze Estate Office, the manager of his estate.
At least 10,000 people in Degeya parish in Luwero district are
embroiled in a land wrangle between managers of the Kabaka’s estate and another
landlord. The affected tenants are living on 3500 acres of land
spread at t the villages of Kireka, Degeya, Namwatulira, Bulemeezi, Bugabo,
Kalagi and Kibajwe all located in Degeya parish in Kalagala sub-county, Luwero district.
The tenants inherited the pieces of land from their grandfathers
and others from their fathers since the 1920s. The land belonged to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda
Mutebi and was managed by the Nkuluze Estate Office, the manager of his estate.
However, in 2014, Moses Mugerwa emerged as the new landlord
claiming that he had bought the land from the Nkuluze Estate Office. The residents led by Umar Mufumba contacted
the Nkuluze Estate office which confirmed that the land had been sold to Mugerwa.
Mufumba explains that some residents surrendered pieces of the land to Mugerwa to offer them land titles
whereas others agreed to pay him ground rent. However, they were shocked when the Kabaka’s estate managers
re-emerged and claimed ownership of the land after residents paid money to
Mugerwa whom they introduced as the new landlord.
Mufumba said that some pieces of land have since been resold leaving the residents crying foul without land titles on remaining land.
//Cue in: “Abantu be Nkuluze…
Cue out;…bwebwagala,”//
Abdul Ssendagire another resident was born at Degeya village
in 1955 and inherited eight pieces of land from his father. Ssendagire says that
he raised eight million shillings to get the land title from Mugerwa.
However, three years later, Mugerwa disappeared and closed the local office leaving them stranded.
James Kimuli a Christian at St Apollo Kivebulaya Anglican
church says that they sold 4 out of 14 acres of church land to acquire land title
but to date, they are yet to get land title.
Joseph Nsubuga the aide to Mugerwa said the Nkuluze Estate Office sold land to Mugerwa who later reached a consensus with tenants on how to stay on the land. Nsubuga however noted that even after losing ownership, a section of
Nkuluze Estate Officials went ahead to illegally sell pieces of people's land to other people plunging the area into conflicts.
//Cue in: "Nina file...
Cue out;...Grade One Magistrate,"//
Efforts to speak to Sam Mubiru the department head of Estate
Offices Under Nkuluze Royal Treasury were unsuccessful and recently the office was summoned by
Resident District Commissioner Richard Bwabye to appear in a community meeting but
the officers snubbed it citing security concerns.
As a result on Saturday, residents led by Wasswa Tamale, the NRM District Party Spokesperson, and Jemba Lumira Mayengo petitioned President Yoweri
Museveni during a public rally at Kalule playground seeking his intervention into
the case to stop their land grabbing. Tamale said that the matter has been brought to the attention of
various offices in vain.
//Cue in: Mwami Mugerwa…
Cue out;…bakolera ebyapa.’’//
President Museveni asked his aides to investigate the matter
to its conclusion and it will be among the five cases from Luwero district
which he will use to show the Country how he is determined to end land
grabbing. Museveni explained that landlords should accept ground rent
and never coerce any person to surrender part of their land or sell it to them.
//Cue in: “Bampita
Jjemba….
Cue out;….gyekyali kikoma,’’//
Now residents are waiting to see how Museveni will
decisively end the rampant land grabbing which partly contributed to his
decline in popularity in the district.
