President Yoweri Museveni has warned landlords in Mityana District in particular and in the country at large to stop evicting Bibanja owners (squatters) unlawfully.
The President said that when a landlord sells off his land to anyone, the squatter should not be bothered or evicted because they are lawful occupants of that land and are protected according to the constitution.
“I have come here to tell whoever is evicting people to stop,” the President said last evening as he addressed squatters of Wabinyira at Nakwaya Secondary School, Bbombo LC1 in Nakwaya Parish of Kikandwa Sub-County, MItyana North Constituency in Mityana District.
This came after squatters and their leaders petitioned the President over massive evictions of people from their land, which he attributed to impunity by a section of Landlords, security operatives, district authorities and politicians both in local and Central Government.
The President said that landowners had run away when Amin and Obote chased them and only returned when the NRM won and brought back peace that the landlords are enjoying today.
“We handled land in a mature way when we came. Amin had banned ownership of land but when we came we realized that Amin used a decree without negotiating with anyone,” the President said.
Mr.Museveni warned the landlords and all those found in the habit of evicting people to stop what he termed as arrogance.
“They have come back now thinking they can mistreat our people in our presence. Noway; this arrogance must stop,” he said.
He explained to residents of Wabinyira the 3 categories of people that the laws protect: being lawful occupants, bonafide occupants and the ones affected by adverse possession.
The President promised locals that he is going to deal directly with all government officials cited in Wabinyira land evictions.
He appealed to the locals to keep peace and calm and avoid destroying properties even for those evicting them. “Don’t use force but use evidence against bad landlords,” He advised
During the meeting, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire explained that her Commission rushed to Mityana in response to a directive by President Yoweri Museveni to investigate attempts by Olive Namawuba, one of the landlords alleged to be inthe eviction of squatters in Wabinyira village in Kikandwa Sub-County.
She said that the Commission investigated and found out that Namawuba had declined to recognize squatters of Wabinyira. She added that letters of administration obtained by Namawuba were by blue-page papers.
Justice Catherine’s commission requested that the families affected be assisted to get proper documents like letters of administration and recommended that the Police should investigate Namawuba on how she got some of the documents and also that the Judiciary take action on the Magistrates mentioned to be colluding with the landlords to evict people.
63 land complaints in Mityana were reported to the Justice Bamugemereire’s Land Commission Inquiry for investigation and so far 4 have been heard publicly including the one of Wabinyira.
The meeting was attended by State Minister for Lands, Hon. Persis Namuganza, State Minister for Tourism Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, who is also area Member of Parliament and Mityana District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Judith Nabakooba,among others.
President Museveni had earlier visited the home of late Mzee Konia Ssewalu Ssalongo of Nakazibain Kikandwa Sub-County in Mityana district. Mzee Konia Ssewalu was one of the people who helped in the struggle that brought NRM in power.
He pledged support to the family.The President asked the family of the late Ssewalu and all the fighters to organize themselves into market cooperatives enable government help them start income generating protects.