Two injured in Mubende land clashes

Oct 16, 2013

Two people were seriously injured and admitted to Mubende regional referral hospital, during a clash over land, which a group of over one hundred people was trying to reclaim.

By Luke Kagiri

Two people were seriously injured and admitted to Mubende regional referral hospital, during a clash over land, which a group of over one hundred people was trying to reclaim.

According to police, the mob on Tuesday evening attacked casual labourers at the farm of a landlord, Allan Mugisha, in Kibalinga Sub county, Mubende district, and ordered them to vacate the land.

The mob assaulted the casual labourers, and seriously injured two of them, as they forced them to leave the land.

The two square mile land is located at Misojo and Kabowa villages in Kibalinga sub county Mubende district.

Speaking to the New Vision, Mugisha said he had paid off all the ‘bibanja’ holders six years ago, but in May this year, they started returning.

“There are some politicians who are misleading them, advising them to return to the land, yet I paid everybody,” he said.

Though the clashes started in May this year, they escalated two weeks ago when a group of over fifty people went back to the village and attempted to reclaim the land.

Police went to the ground and arrested twenty people, sixteen of whom were remanded to Kaweri prison on charges of criminal trespass.

On Tuesday, another group mobilized and returned to the land at Kabowa. They were armed with pangs, spears, and logs which they used to hack the labourers they found at the land.

During the clash, David Kwizera, a foreman at the farm, sustained deep cut wounds on the head and the hand.

“I was speared on the hand and cut on the head as the rest were caning me accusing me of working for Mugisha. I pleaded to forgive me but they refused,” Kwizera said.

The anti riot police from Mubende and Mityana commanded by Regional police commander Wamala region, Ovuru Binega, went to the scene and arrested thirty five people.

Abaine said they had responded to rescue the people who were being assaulted by the mob. “We had been informed that these people are trying to forcefully reclaim the land which they vacated many years ago. We cannot encourage mob justice; if any body is not contented, he must use the court,” he said.

The suspects were detained at Mubende police station. Abaine said they are soon sending them to court on charges of attempted murder.
 

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