Hoima woman injured in land dispute

By Pascal Kwesiga

An 80-year-old woman is fighting for her life in Hoima district after she was cut, suspectedly by four people whom she accuses of trying to grab her land.

Zulia Bitamazire, a widow in Butanjwa village in Mparo division, Hoima municipality was allegedly attacked by her neighbours — Erisa Asaba, Ziripa Balyesiima, Pulakiseda Katigo and one only identified as Byabasaija last week while she was in her garden with her grandchildren. The Police arrested the four suspects.

Zulia who lost her husband, Abaadi Bitamazire, in 1976 owns a big piece of land that stretches from the sign post of Bulera Teachers’ College to Bakwata hill.

The district head of criminal investigations, Godson Namanya, said the suspects will appear in court today Monday.

According to Zulia’s daughter, Hamidah Bitamazire, one of the four suspects first hit their mother on the head with a brick and she fell down before they started to cut her.

Hamidah explained that the attackers wanted to cut the head but she protected it with her left hand that was cut with a panga.

Hamidah said the attackers fled when she and her grandchildren made alarms that attracted residents to the scene.

After the incident, Hamidah said they rushed Zulia who was bleeding profusely to the Police hospital in Hoima. She was later transferred to Doctors’ Clinic in Hoima town where she was treated before being discharged.

Hamidah claimed that Balyesiima, Katigo, Byabasaija and Asaba attempted to grab their land last year but were stopped when they petitioned State House for intervention.

She said Zulia stays on the land with her three sons — Kanuni, Kaahwa, Asirali — and scores of grandchildren.