Kabakumba, 600 households Battle over Land

Residents of the three villages of Kityedo, Bihanga and Ikioba in Bwijanga sub county Masindi district and Kabakumba Labwoni Matsiko the former Member of parliament for Bujenje county are feuding over a piece of land.

The land under contention measures 600 hectares which Kabakumba claims ownership. 

Kabakumba contends that in 2004, the Custodian Board advertised many properties including Bujenje estate and she was among the bidders adding that she was considered.

The land in question is hosting over 600 households.

She also explains that when she acquired the land she organised a meeting for the residents in 2006 and explained to them how they would put it to use.

Julius Kahira Mbogo, the District councillor for Bwijanga Sub county who is also a resident says according to the plaintiff filed by Kabakumba, she indicated that by the time she acquired the land there was no occupant something Kahira says is a lie.

Kahira also noted that during the meeting that was convened by Kabakumba in 2006 Kabakumba told them she had bought the land for them.

 Kahira also wonders why the Custodian Board never gave them chance to show interest in the land since they settled. In the land for years before Kabakumba came to claim it.

Following the disagreement, in 2017 Kabakumba dragged the residents of the three villages to Masindi high court accusing them of failing to vacate the land she says was acquired lawfully. On the 12th of April 2019, the Masindi resident judge Albert Rugadya Atwooki instructed the two parties to first settle the matter out of court and assigned Counsel Willy Lubega to take lead in the mediation.

During the mediation which was held on Monday at Kolping hotel Masindi town, Kabakumba gave three options to the residents. They Include leasing the land they are occupying, buying and accepting to be compensated.

But the residents rejected all the three options and opted for refunding back the money she used to buy the land from the custodian board with interests but Kabakumba objected.

However, Counsel Willy Lubega the mediator advised the two parties to jointly pursue for the compensation

from the land fund .

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