Land feud: PWDs ask President to intervene

Sep 20, 2013

Persons with disabilities have asked State House to intervene in the land wrangle in which they allege forceful eviction.

By Gloria Nakajubi and Agnes Nantambi
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KAMPALA - Persons with disabilities (PWDs), under their umbrella body National Union for Persons with Disabilities (NUDIPU) have asked State House to intervene in the land wrangle in which they allege forceful eviction.

The land in contention is located on Plot 175 Bombo road in Wandegeya, Kampala.

It is said to have been given to the PWDs under Abalema United Efforts Association through a presidential directive in 2002 to carry out income generating activities.

Speaking during a press conference organized by NUDIPU on Thursday, Kiiza Daniel, chairperson of Abalema United Efforts Association said the other party said to own the land acquired a land title in the names of Salvation Army claiming to start up income generating projects for the PWDs without their knowledge and later sold the land to another party.

“We want the president to clarify on this issue so that we can be able to acquire a land title for our land and be able to earn a living other than be turned into street beggars,” said Kiiza.

Their demand follows a clash of police and a group of PWDs in protest earlier this week.

Police intervened to disperse the group who had staged a demonstration at the ministry of lands offices in Kampala.

The PWDs engaged bitterly with the police who attempted to restrain them from further demonstrating at the offices.

Traffic along the parliamentary avenue was blocked for over an hour as the group clashed with police.

They insisted on meeting the lands chairman, Joash Mayanja Nkangi, who later appeared and talked them, giving them sssurance of the necessary intervention, which eventually brought the demonstrating group to calm.

But now the group condemns the manner in which police dispersed them, saying they had intended to demonstrate peacefully.

Kinubi Francis, chairperson NUDIPU also noted that this was against their human rights and they demand the police officers who carried out this operation to be dealt with by the Inspector General of Police.

“By taking away their crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs, you have already disabled them the more and therefore you cannot successfully disperse them,” said Kinubi.

He added that they intend to engage police officers to ensure that they are well trained in disability management as a matter of urgency.