Rukiga district asks Gov’t to intervene over shs100m court fines in lost ase

RUKIGA, UGANDA: Rukiga District political leaders have asked the government to bail out the district with 100 million shillings needed in compensation to David Gakyaro and Sam Byandusya, who in 2015 won a case in the high court against Rwamucucu Sub County for illegal ownership of his 2 acres of land that is currently being used as a playground and a market in Rwamucucu Sub County.

The land in question has for the last over 70 years been used as a playground for all schools in Rukiga, a community grazing land and a market which operates on Monday every two weeks a month.

In 2015, Rwamucucu Sub County lost a court case to Gakyaro and Byandusya who had sued the sub-county leaders for illegally felling trees planted in Rushebeya market located along Muhanga-Kisiizi road. Gakyaro petitioned Kabale High Court, which directed the sub-county to pay 12 million shillings for damages. However, Gakyaro was paid only 6.5 million shillings.

Gakyaro and Byandusya ran back to court in 2017 and were given orders to attach the market land since the then Rwamucucu Sub County chief Justus Ampeire and the then LC III Chairperson; Justus Tushabomwe failed to show up in court to testify on the matter.

In 2019, over 100 residents led by the former Rukiga District legislator Herbert Kabafunzaki petitioned President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene on the matter since the land was at the verge of being taken by Gakyaro and Byandusya.

While addressing journalists in Kabale municipality in August of 2019, President Museveni directed the then minister for lands, housing and urban development Dr Chris Baryomunsi to look for funds and compensate people who claim the ownership of a 2-acre land but this has been in vain since the directive was made.

Now, speaking during the belated women’s day at Rwamucucu playground last Friday, the Rwamucucu Sub County Chairperson Eddie Mugisha and the District Chairperson Robert Mbabazi Kakwerere asked the prime minister to remind the president about the directive he made about the same land that has been implemented.

The Rukiga District woman Member of Parliament Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi said that her efforts to remind the minister for lands about the presidential directive have been in vain and promised to give a detailed report to the prime minister this week for follow-up.

In her response, Prime Minister Robinah Nabanjja said that he will follow up on the matter after getting a detailed report and requested to wait to occupy the land before the matter is handled.