The office of the Resident District Commissioner Kabarole is overwhelmed by the rampant land disputes that have resulted into conflicts and murders.
About 80% percent of the conflicts and murder cases in Kabarole district are caused by land wrangles, Mrs Rose Monday Byabasaija the deputy RDC has revealed.
“In the sensitization meetings we’ve held with the residents and the district chairman, land disputes came out as the major cause of conflicts in communities. At least every day our office records 2 to 5 cases related to land conflicts and he most affected sub counties are Buheesi, Kicwamba, Bukuuku, Kabende, Busoro, Hakibale,” She added.
The deputy RDC strongly condemned the acts of people taking laws in their hands and some inciting violence amongst the locals.
Mrs Byabasaija made the revelation during a security meeting with Kabarole district chairman, residents of Mubali Kijura town council and Management of TAMTECO tea estate at Kitumba district headquarters on Tuesday.
The meeting was aimed at ironing out the land conflicts between Mubali residents, one Felly Gunn a tea investor and TAMTECO Tea Company.
According to Abel Nsabimaana the Group Manager TAMTECO tea Estate, the disputed land belongs to their company but both the residents and Felly Gunn the investor were occupying it and using it illegally.
He said, “Our Company had asked the tenants not to plant permanent crops and construct permanent structures but they have continued to plant perennial crops like coffee and tea. This land was leased to us by Tooro kingdom”.
Squabbles erupted in 2009 when Felly Gunn evicted the residents claiming ownership of the disputed land and planted tea and eucalyptus trees in it.
Christopher Tindyeba the lead tenant on the land claims that Gunn destroyed his crops and coffee plantation when she evicted them from the land and wants compensation.
“The land was surveyed but a report indicated that the land in question did not belong to her nor to us the residents but to TAMTECO. I therefore demand that she compensates my for my plantations that were destroyed because I’ve failed to get tuition for my children,” Tindyeba said.
With the guidance of the district chairperson Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga, the conflicting parties agreed that the land be gazzatted and taken over by Kijura town council authorities till government decides.
It was also agreed that permanent boundaries in the surveyed land be formalized and the district chairman writes to president Museveni reminding him of his pledge to purchase the land from Tooro kingdom that leased it to TAMTECO for the people who have stayed there for over 60 years.
The chairman strongly warned the people against threatening violence and malicious damage that leads to destruction of property and death but respect laws and decisions taken.
Three notorious hooligans that include Musinguzi Donant,Sirasi Muhizi and Mutabazi Faostino were identified to be spearheading the incitement of people to commit crime.