| KAMPALA
MENGO is angry at the central government over alleged allocation
of tracts of the Kabaka's land in Kiboga to Rwandese refugees. The
land, part of the famous 9,000 square miles, has also been allocated
to senior UPDF officers, district councillors and officials.
Kalangala RDC Katenda Luutu (formerly posted to Kiboga) confirms
that Rwandese refugees have been allocated part of the Kabaka's land
in Kiboga.
"I witnessed this when I was serving as RDC in Kiboga. These
people were ferried in buses and trucks in the night, I tried to
fight it by arresting them but they had stronger forces behind,"
Luutu said recently. However, the district chairperson, Mr Siraje
Kizito Nkugwa, distanced himself from accusations that he backed the
move. He said: "I was not even around when the district council
passed that resolution."
Further information filtering out of Kiboga cites six current and
retired officers who got part of the said land. They include: Lt.
Gen. Elly Tumwine, Col. Paddy Kashumba, Col. Kizza Besigye, Col. Sam
Kawagga, Col. Livingstone Kateregga. Officials in Kiboga District
have also reportedly allocated themselves part of the said
land.
Other sources told Sunday Monitor that Kiboga district
councillors and administration officials recently passed a
resolution to sell more of the said land to interested developers.
Buganda kingdom deputy Premier Kaaya Kavuma said Kiboga land
belongs to the Kabaka but government decided to leave it under the
custody of the district. "What is happening in Kiboga justifies our
dissatisfaction. We have remained unhappy because that land has not
yet been returned to us," he said, adding that Mengo would take
legal action against the illegal tenants in Kiboga.
The kingdom's Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Youth and
Information, Mr Peter Mayiga, told Sunday Monitor that Mengo is
unhappy that the Buganda Land Board lacks powers over the said 9,000
square miles. "Government instead gave the land to districts under
the district land boards which have not done enough to protect it"
he said.
Mayiga said the kingdom was still studying the situation and a
collective response would be announced soon. "Land is not like a
fruit, which can be carried away," he said.
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