Kibuku, Uganda: A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday morning between LC III Kadama Town Council Hon. Nsenye Nathan Israel and local residents during the ceremonial opening of newly cleared town roads. The event was marred by tensions surrounding construction encroachments on road reserves, particularly involving local residents, Nicholas and Irene.
As heavy machinery began clearing the road, it became apparent that the grader had reached the wall fence of Nicholas and Irene’s property. In a controversial move, Hon. Nsenye instructed the grader driver to dismantle the wall, claiming it was illegally constructed on public land.
Irene, visibly agitated, accused the LC III of targeting her due to her ethnicity, stating, “He is fighting me because I am a munyankole.” During the confrontation, she also demanded compensation from the Town Council for the dismantled wall, a request that many residents dismissed. They argued that the council had engaged her multiple times before she constructed the fence, warning her of its illegality.
Hon. Nsenye remained resolute, asserting that the couple had repeatedly ignored warnings against building in the roadway. “We have held several meetings with the technical staff about this matter, but it seems they believe they are above the law,” he declared.
In response to the LC III’s insistence on continuing the road opening, Nicholas and Irene questioned his authority, asking if he was the town clerk or an engineer. This prompted allegations from Hon. Nsenye that the couple had bribed technical staff, a claim that gained traction when the town clerk intervened to halt the grader.
The atmosphere escalated further as residents rallied behind Irene, vowing to close all roads on their land that lead to Nicholas and Irene’s homestead. They stated, “Since Nicholas and Irene have decided to sabotage the government project, we want to see where they will drive their vehicles to access their home.”
Another resident criticized Irene’s behavior, highlighting her tendency to verbally assault others without discretion. Reverend George Otabongo, who had come to support Nicholas and Irene, urged the LC III to approach the situation with patience and due process.
Despite the escalating tensions, Hon. Nsenye issued an ultimatum: the couple had three days to remove their bricks and clear the way for the road, or they would face consequences for obstructing government projects. He questioned their understanding of the situation, noting that other neighbors had complied with road regulations when approached.
In a phone interview, Town Clerk Mutema Dickey Emmanuel dismissed allegations of impropriety, clarifying that the roads being opened were part of the financial year 2024/2025 plans, long before his tenure in Kadama. He confirmed ongoing discussions with Nicholas and Irene, stating, “They are proving to be above the law. We have already opened two of the four planned roads.”
The contentious road in question connects the Kadama-Nandere road to the Kadama-Namukaluke road, situated behind Fair Homeland Nursery and Primary School. As tensions continue to simmer, the community watches closely, anticipating the next developments in this unfolding dispute.
The scuffle serves as a reminder to those who obtain land in the area to always first consult the sub-county or Town Council technical staff for guidance before any activities are undertaken on the acquired land.
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