Gender ministry denies Bombo evictions
THE Ministry of Gender has denied being involved in the planned eviction of over 1,000 people, mainly Nubians, in Bombo town council. The permanent secretary, Christine Kintu, told MPs on the public accounts committee on Monday that although the ministry had agreed to give away its 30 acres of land
By Mary Karugaba
and Frederick Kiwanuka
THE Ministry of Gender has denied being involved in the planned eviction of over 1,000 people, mainly Nubians, in Bombo town council. The permanent secretary, Christine Kintu, told MPs on the public accounts committee on Monday that although the ministry had agreed to give away its 30 acres of land at Lweza, to an investor, it was not party to the evictions. The land houses the Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disability.
The ministry said they do not know James Dagirira, the alleged owner of the land in Bombo. According to Kintu, the Uganda Lands Commission introduced them to an investor, Henley Property Developers, who promised to relocate the ministry’s rehabilitation centre in favour of a five-star hotel.
“We accepted but said we can only relocate the people to a place acceptable to us,†she added. The developers are expected to construct a multipurpose training centre for persons with disability in Bombo, on Plot 65, Block 1026, Namaliga.
Henley’s lawyers, Beyaraza Wagabaza Associated Advocates, also clarified that the ministry was not involved in the land evictions.
“The land was bought by Henley, not a Government ministry. It is Henley’s responsibility to compensate squatters on the land,†the statement from the lawyers reads. They also denied reports that there was controversy over the ownership of the Bombo land.
However, the Nubians rejected the eviction saying the land was given to them by the Buganda Kingdom during the colonial era.
and Frederick Kiwanuka
THE Ministry of Gender has denied being involved in the planned eviction of over 1,000 people, mainly Nubians, in Bombo town council. The permanent secretary, Christine Kintu, told MPs on the public accounts committee on Monday that although the ministry had agreed to give away its 30 acres of land at Lweza, to an investor, it was not party to the evictions. The land houses the Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disability.
The ministry said they do not know James Dagirira, the alleged owner of the land in Bombo. According to Kintu, the Uganda Lands Commission introduced them to an investor, Henley Property Developers, who promised to relocate the ministry’s rehabilitation centre in favour of a five-star hotel.
“We accepted but said we can only relocate the people to a place acceptable to us,†she added. The developers are expected to construct a multipurpose training centre for persons with disability in Bombo, on Plot 65, Block 1026, Namaliga.
Henley’s lawyers, Beyaraza Wagabaza Associated Advocates, also clarified that the ministry was not involved in the land evictions.
“The land was bought by Henley, not a Government ministry. It is Henley’s responsibility to compensate squatters on the land,†the statement from the lawyers reads. They also denied reports that there was controversy over the ownership of the Bombo land.
However, the Nubians rejected the eviction saying the land was given to them by the Buganda Kingdom during the colonial era.