Katanga’s evicted blame local leaders
Mar 28, 2007
KAMPALA<br><br>Over 30 families are now homeless after Makerere University evicted them from Katanga. This followed a court ruling that allowed Makerere University to buy the land where they were living.
KAMPALA
By Alfred Byenkya
Over 30 families are now homeless after Makerere University evicted them from Katanga. This followed a court ruling that allowed Makerere University to buy the land where they were living.
People’s property was also destroyed and stolen during the demolition exercise.
The situation has created fear and tension among the locals, who have been given three days to move. The residents say they have nowhere to go, since most of them have been in the area for more than 40 years.
“We are scared and uncertain about what is going to happen next. We don’t know how this saga began. These people just invaded our homes and began destroying our houses and property. Like me, I have lived in this place since Amin’s regime,†says Mumba Mutwalibu, whose family has been left homeless.
Mutwalibu says he came to Kampala in 1971 and settled in Bwaise until he relocated to Katanga. There he got a wife and settled. “My three children are suffering since they destroyed our house. I cannot work because I have to get where to take my family and property as soon as possible.â€
Dolphine Kisakye, a dry cleaner in Kimwanyi Zone, says that she settled in the area in 1980. She has lived there for more than 20 years and the plot where she is, was bought by her late father.
“This plot is mine. My father left me with all the documents for the plot of land where my house is built. We do not have anywhere to go,†says the miserable mother of eight, some of whom are fatherless.
She appeals to the Government to intervene and help them for the sake of their children. “Even if the Government gets us another area for settlement, it will not work out because we are poor people who cannot afford to build new houses,†says Kisakye.
Flazio Kabonesa says the LCs are the cause of this kind of suffering in Katanga. Kabonesa says she has not eaten since Sunday because she does not have anywhere to prepare food from.
Sarah Bagole, another resident, accuses the local leaders who sold land to the residents of Katanga.
“I have the documents for the plot where my house is, but since they evicted us last Sunday, the chairman has gone into hiding. We are searching for him to tell us why they did this without consulting us,†Bagole said.
Sheikh Dirisa Nyombi, another resident, accuses the chairman of causing the fracas about ownership of land. He says that most of the people have documents that prove that they bought the land from the local council.
Residents have accused the chairman of double-dealing and not taking responsibility. The residents claim that they have been involved in selling off plots to people who want to settle in the area.
“I bought this plot of land from the LCs, and they gave me all the documents to prove ownership. Now they are the same people telling us to leave the slum. I have nowhere to go,†says Nyombi.
However, Edisa Mbabazi, a shop attendant and mother of two, is not much concerned with what is happening since she has faced the same kind of eviction threats.
“In 2004, the LCs distributed letters ordering us to vacate because we had built our houses in the sewage system. They tried so much to force us to leave the place, but all their plans failed.â€
Mbabazi says local leaders want to extract money from them, adding that LCs have tried several times to do this, but in vain.
“I have no plans to leave this house where I live with my kids. My husband died so I have to resist this act. I was left with the responsibility of looking after the children. More so, there is a law which says that if someone has stayed in an area for 12 years, it is illegal to just send him/her away. This is why I am going nowhere,†she states forcefully.
Salongo Kiwalabye says that the the chairman sold him part of the land he lives on for sh1.5m where he built houses for rent, but they have been destroyed.
“My eight children and two wives have nowhere to go. We are here as refugees seeking help. We are dying of starvation and hunger since we have not eaten for three days,†he cries.
Ronald Aketto, 20, has lived with his elder brother Isaac Katugo since the death of their parents in 2003. He says that although people say the land belongs to Makerere University, he is sure that it belongs to their neighbours who are people of the Kabaka.
“My neighbour is called Sam Spaya, a man of the Kabaka. He has assured us of protection against the people who are trying to evict us from our homes. Residents have vowed to shed blood if this entire evil act is not stopped as soon as possible,†Aketto warned.
Local leaders in the area, however, deny selling any of the land to the tenants. “I have never sold any land to any person. Most of the selling and exchange of land was between owners of the bibanja (plots) and not by LCs,†says one of the LCs, who is now in hiding, afraid of mob justice.
He however agrees that two years ago, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation together with KCC asked them to tell residents to vacate some part of the land because they had built over a sewerage line.
The affected families have begun constructing temporary shelters on a spot that was once their garbage dump, using debris of the demolished houses.
Additional reporting
by Joshua Kato
By Alfred Byenkya
Over 30 families are now homeless after Makerere University evicted them from Katanga. This followed a court ruling that allowed Makerere University to buy the land where they were living.
People’s property was also destroyed and stolen during the demolition exercise.
The situation has created fear and tension among the locals, who have been given three days to move. The residents say they have nowhere to go, since most of them have been in the area for more than 40 years.
“We are scared and uncertain about what is going to happen next. We don’t know how this saga began. These people just invaded our homes and began destroying our houses and property. Like me, I have lived in this place since Amin’s regime,†says Mumba Mutwalibu, whose family has been left homeless.
Mutwalibu says he came to Kampala in 1971 and settled in Bwaise until he relocated to Katanga. There he got a wife and settled. “My three children are suffering since they destroyed our house. I cannot work because I have to get where to take my family and property as soon as possible.â€
Dolphine Kisakye, a dry cleaner in Kimwanyi Zone, says that she settled in the area in 1980. She has lived there for more than 20 years and the plot where she is, was bought by her late father.
“This plot is mine. My father left me with all the documents for the plot of land where my house is built. We do not have anywhere to go,†says the miserable mother of eight, some of whom are fatherless.
She appeals to the Government to intervene and help them for the sake of their children. “Even if the Government gets us another area for settlement, it will not work out because we are poor people who cannot afford to build new houses,†says Kisakye.
Flazio Kabonesa says the LCs are the cause of this kind of suffering in Katanga. Kabonesa says she has not eaten since Sunday because she does not have anywhere to prepare food from.
Sarah Bagole, another resident, accuses the local leaders who sold land to the residents of Katanga.
“I have the documents for the plot where my house is, but since they evicted us last Sunday, the chairman has gone into hiding. We are searching for him to tell us why they did this without consulting us,†Bagole said.
Sheikh Dirisa Nyombi, another resident, accuses the chairman of causing the fracas about ownership of land. He says that most of the people have documents that prove that they bought the land from the local council.
Residents have accused the chairman of double-dealing and not taking responsibility. The residents claim that they have been involved in selling off plots to people who want to settle in the area.
“I bought this plot of land from the LCs, and they gave me all the documents to prove ownership. Now they are the same people telling us to leave the slum. I have nowhere to go,†says Nyombi.
However, Edisa Mbabazi, a shop attendant and mother of two, is not much concerned with what is happening since she has faced the same kind of eviction threats.
“In 2004, the LCs distributed letters ordering us to vacate because we had built our houses in the sewage system. They tried so much to force us to leave the place, but all their plans failed.â€
Mbabazi says local leaders want to extract money from them, adding that LCs have tried several times to do this, but in vain.
“I have no plans to leave this house where I live with my kids. My husband died so I have to resist this act. I was left with the responsibility of looking after the children. More so, there is a law which says that if someone has stayed in an area for 12 years, it is illegal to just send him/her away. This is why I am going nowhere,†she states forcefully.
Salongo Kiwalabye says that the the chairman sold him part of the land he lives on for sh1.5m where he built houses for rent, but they have been destroyed.
“My eight children and two wives have nowhere to go. We are here as refugees seeking help. We are dying of starvation and hunger since we have not eaten for three days,†he cries.
Ronald Aketto, 20, has lived with his elder brother Isaac Katugo since the death of their parents in 2003. He says that although people say the land belongs to Makerere University, he is sure that it belongs to their neighbours who are people of the Kabaka.
“My neighbour is called Sam Spaya, a man of the Kabaka. He has assured us of protection against the people who are trying to evict us from our homes. Residents have vowed to shed blood if this entire evil act is not stopped as soon as possible,†Aketto warned.
Local leaders in the area, however, deny selling any of the land to the tenants. “I have never sold any land to any person. Most of the selling and exchange of land was between owners of the bibanja (plots) and not by LCs,†says one of the LCs, who is now in hiding, afraid of mob justice.
He however agrees that two years ago, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation together with KCC asked them to tell residents to vacate some part of the land because they had built over a sewerage line.
The affected families have begun constructing temporary shelters on a spot that was once their garbage dump, using debris of the demolished houses.
Additional reporting
by Joshua Kato