BULIISA– More than 1,000 families in the two villages of Booma and Watembu in Butiaba Town Council, Buliisa district are at a risk of being evicted from their land.
This is according to the Masindi Chief Magistrate’s judgement that was delivered by Justice Deogratius Ssejemba in favour of Francis Kahwa Balam.
In 2014, residents of the said villages went to Masindi Magistrate’s Court challenging Kahwa over ownership of over 500 acres of land in Butiaba Town Council in the same district.
The residents accused Kahwa of fraudulently obtaining the land.They contended that Kahwa doesn’t have documents authenticating his ownership of the acres in question.
“Kahwa has no land in the area,” the angry residents told theCooperator outside court.
According to Amos Bazaale, a resident of Booma village, the land in Buliisa district is customarily owned and he is wondering how he obtained it.
“We are going to appeal against this judgement. This judgement is unfair because more than 1,000 households are at a risk of being evicted. There is no justice in this ruling. There is injustice in this ruling. The government should intervene and save the people of Buliisa against grabbers,” he added.
Simon Byenkya Musiimo, an elder explained that in 2003, President Museveni asked the Basiimo Clan to donate land for government to establish a Military Training School in Butiaba saying, in 2006 President Museveni visited the same area and the boundaries were made between the community and barracks.
He added that they were surprised when they saw Kahwa deploying armed soldiers to undertake a survey for the remaining piece acres.
Byenkya told theCooperator that when they asked Kahwa for a survey report of his land application; to their dismay, Kahwa didn’t give a convincing answer.
“Kahwa doesn’t have any documents about the ownership. I am wondering how Kahwa is claiming land ownership in this area and yet he doesn’t have any binding document,” the elder added.
However, Francis Kahwa Balam, told journalists that he compensated the land owners noting that those claiming the acres in question are the owners.
”I compensated the land owners, those making claims are not owners. Those who occupied the land were paid. I am happy since the ruling has been delivered in my favour, ” a happy Kahwa explained.
https://thecooperator.news/lack-of-national-ids-frustrating-eacop-compensation-process/
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