An unknown number of residents in Katooke Zone, Kireka B, has been injured in clashes between personnel of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and a group of locals opposed to being evicted to allow construction of the perimeter wall around Mandela National stadium.

According to Col Deo Akiiki, the Deputy Defence spokesperson, chaos ensued on Thursday morning when “a group of encroachers on government land” led by area Vice Chairman, Kawooya Godfrey attacked UPDF engineers who were surveying part of the land that hosts Namboole Stadium Complex in order to begin laying culverts and block manholes.

The encroachers, he says, were armed with machetes, stones, arrows and bows.

“The security detail protecting the site and workers shot three warning shots to disperse Mr Kawooya’s gang but in vain. Chaos ensued and three of the soldiers were injured including Private Masereka Jackson, whose fingers were cut by panga welding gangs,” Col Akiiki says.

“Civilians injured are not yet established as police joins us to investigate the incident further and bring those involved to book,” he adds.

Government is renovating Mandela National Stadium with the construction of the perimeter wall as one of the requirements from CAF. The perimeter wall will also protect the land from encroachers.

However, people who occupy the land, many who have lived on it for more than 20 years, have publicly expressed concern over attempts to evict them. Several houses were demolished to create space for the wall, all activities residents said were hurried and illegal.

Betty Nansubuga, one of the affected residents, says that she has been residing in their area for the last 26 years and was shocked to see a sudden wall covering her home.

According to Nansubuga, she neither received any communication nor warning from those behind the construction.

Nansubuga revealed that one of the residents she identified as Mubiru Kekete attempted to commit suicide when the builders told him that his house would be demolished.

The 60-year-old Nansubuga said that she barely sleeps for fear of eviction at the night. Her only request to the stadium management is to give them some time to find where to go with her family.

Maama Nabbanja, another resident says that she has been a resident for thirteen years. She says that the perimeter wall came as a shock that left them wondering what to do to next.

But Col Akiiki says to the contrary. He reiterates that: “Notice of vacating the premises were sent out to the encroachers several times by all concerned authorities and a deadline of 15th February, 2023 was given. Indeed upon expiry of these notices a company called Flight Auctioneers was hired to forcefully evict the defiant encroachers”.

But Kawooya, the area Vice Chairperson, insists that block 232 on which his local council is situated, belongs to Kabaka Ronald Mutebi’s uncle known as Kisosonkole.

Meanwhile, the ongoing renovation works will also cover the dressing rooms, playing surface, running track, installation of desks and air conditioners in the media and VIP sections, seats in the general public stands, and upgrading floodlights as directed by CAF.

Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam is an experienced Ugandan multimedia Journalist with a background of fact checking and thorough research. He is very passionate about current African affairs particularly Horn of Africa. He... More by Kungu Al-Mahadi Adam

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