Residents of Kateete Village in Kyampisi Sub County in Mukono district have formed vigilante groups to fight forceful evictions in their area. It comes just days after unidentified men armed with sticks and machetes stormed the village and demolished eleven newly built houses.
Residents accuse Molly Nabadda, who claims to be their new landlord of instigating the dubious evictions. Nabadda has been feuding with the residents over the land since last year. However, residents insist that the land belongs to the late Emmanuel Tamale Tamuna.
The contested land hosts over 50 residents, who are living in fear of endless attacks. Samson Ziritwawula, one of the residents close to the demolished houses, says that a group of bouncers moved closer to his home on Wednesday night. But they backed off when he raised an alarm following the stampede outside.
Ritah Nabakooza, another resident says the disagreement between the family of their landlord and the new claimant should not affect tenants. She appeals to the two parties to settle their disagreements and engage residents on the way forward.
Geoffrey Lukwago, the area LC I Chairperson, says that they have failed to receive assistance from the police despite the numerous illegal night evictions. He says the entire village is living in tension because of the unplanned evictions.
The late Tamuna’s son, Tamale Kakumba says that the new self-styled landlord (Nabadda) forged a title and agreement indicating that she bought the land from their father. He says that they reported the matter to the office of the Resident District Commissioner and their case is pending a hearing.
Nabadda couldn’t be reached for comment as her known telephone numbers were switched off. However, Samuel Bananywa, the Officer in Charge (OC) of Operations at Naggalama Police Station, says that he spoke to Nabbada who denied ordering any evictions. Fatumah Ndisaba, the Mukono Resident District Commissioner told our reporter that she wasn’t aware of the evictions taking place in Kyampisi sub-county.
According to Ndisaba, she has instructed security to monitor and arrest whoever is involved in the illegal evictions. Recently, President Yoweri Kaguta banned evictions across the country carried out without the consent of the Resident City/District Commissioners. Museveni directed that District Security Committees-DSC, which are headed by RDCs/RCCs must be informed and agree before any eviction is carried out.