Kikuube locals storm RDC’s office over appointment of land board chairman
KIKUUBE – More than 150 residents representing over 540 families from Kabwoya sub-county in Kikuube district on Monday afternoon stormed the offices of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) demanding the Office of the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to intervene and order Kikuube district council to drop the name of Ignatius Muganyizi as the Chairperson district land board.
Kikuube district council two weeks ago appointed Muganyizi as the Chairperson of the district land board amidst protests from community members and the area members of parliament and a section of Councillors.
Muganyizi’s appointment as the district land board Chairperson was made by 13 Councilors out of 24 during a council meeting that was presided over by Christopher Nkalu, the Speaker during a session held at Lake Albert Guest house in Kyehoro landing site, Kabwoya sub-county, Kikuube district.
The residents carrying placards with words like; I have refused to have Muganyizi as district land board Chairman, we disagree with Muganyi’s appointment as Chairperson Kikuube district land board, there is a lot of forged land titles in the district as a result of Muganyizi.
Residents threatened to take the law into their hands if Kikuube leadership continues to keep a deaf ear on these concerns.
They accused the Kikuube district council of being corrupt, adding that the appointment of Muganyizi was influenced by land grabbers in the region.
According to them, before the council approved Muganyizi as district land board boss, they (residents) petitioned the office of the district Chairman Peter Banura and the Speaker, Chris Nkaru but they ignored the petition and went ahead with their interest.
According to them, Muganyizi’s integrity was tainted when he was working as the Kabwoya sub-county area land committee chairperson.
Led by John Mugabo, the LC1 Chairperson of Kyabayanja village, the aggrieved residents allege that Muganyizi then as Chairman area land committee of Kabwoya sub-county connived with several tycoons and titled people’s land illegally.
One of the tycoons is Mustafa Zaidi who owns 925 hectares of land with a title in names of MZ Agencies which land is also claimed by residents.
They also accuse Muganyizi of having connived with one Maria Conslata and titled people’s land measuring 420 hectare. It also alleged that during Muganyizi’s time, land measuring 1000 acres belonging to Kabwoya-Maaya youth were illegally titled.
The protesters were from the villages of Kyabayanja, Kimbugu, Kiburara A, Kiburara B, Nyamiriki and Nyangabi holding placards and singing Nawaka, Omwoto denounced the appointment of Muganyizi.
The residents handed over a petition to the RDC signed by over 150 affected residents demanding the cancellation of Muganyizi’s appointment saying that his appointment will fuel land grabbing in the entire district.
The residents, included old women and men who argued that since the district failed to listen to them, they demand the office of the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the Minister of Lands, Judith Nabakooba to intervene.
While receiving the petition, Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner commended the residents for using civil means of expressing their grievances instead of taking the law into their hands.
He noted that Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had been informed about the issues and promised to deliver their petition to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Lands about the whole matter before Muganyizi fully takes over office.
Tumusiime told the residents that some district leaders are plotting for his transfer because of standing with the community. He noted 90% of the cases which his office handles daily are related to land but the leaders have failed to understand this challenge.
https://thecooperator.news/mps-residents-reject-appointment-of-chairman-land-board/
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