Kayihura halts evictions in Kasokoso

Nov 15, 2013

There will be no more land evictions by National Housing and Constructions Company Limited in Kasokoso, says the IGP.

By Simon Masaba and Charles Etukuri

There will be no more land evictions by National Housing and Constructions Company Limited (NHCC) in Kasokoso, in Wakiso district Police have said.

The police have also started investigating the bonafide claimants of the 292 acres currently under dispute pitying the NHCC and the area residents that has been a source of violent clashes.

In an attempt to resolve the impasse created, Gen. Kale Kayihura the Inspector General of Police on Thursday evening chaired what appeared to be the first formal meeting involving all the area politicians and those affected by the project at the police headquarters in Naguru.

NHCC team was represented by its board Chairperson Agnes Kalibala. Also in the meeting were Kyadondo North Member of Parliament Ibrahim Semujju Nganda, Wakiso Woman MP Rosemary Seninde and Kiira Town Council Mayor Mamerito Mugerwa.

It was the first time the politicians were meeting face to face after an incident last week when the Mayor was almost lynched and his car torched.

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A young boy looks at a policeman on guard during the meeting. PHOTO/Matthias Mugisha

Mugewra and Seninde also used the opportunity to reconcile publicly after the former accused her of being behind the mob that attacked him.

Police and the area leaders blamed NHCC for sparking of the riots and delaying to reclaim the land even when they were notified earlier that the prime piece of property had been encroached upon.

Semujuu said they had petitioned Parliament to investigate the matter. He also revealed that the NHCC was also being investigated by the Auditor General who was questioning the payment of sh13 billion to the original owners Kireka Estates for the acquisition of as reversionary interests yet the land had been encumbered.

The residents thanked Kayihura for organizing the meeting. “This is the first time I am seating face to face with officials of NHCC,” said George Alele one of the residents.

The meeting also resolved to freeze all activity on the land. “There should no fresh building or sale transactions and let us maintain the status quo,” Kayihura told the residents.

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Residents of contested Kasokoso in Kireka jubilate  after IGP told them they would not be evicted from their land. PHOTO/Matthias Mugisha

On Friday the IGP toured the area to console with the victims who were injured during the four day riot and also familiar himself with the facts on the ground.

The residents recounted the brutality police unleashed towards them as they quelled the riots and Kayihura promised to meet the costs of the treatment. He also ordered for an inquiry over the forceful quelling of the riots but warned the residents against mob justice and taking the law into their hands.

To help resolve the impasse, Kayihura ordered for the release of all the suspects who had been arrested during the week long incident where the Kiira Town Council Mayor survived being lynched and his car torched by the angry mob.

He also dispelled the residents’ fears that the police was being used to settle personal scores. “The Police is a professional force and will perform its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property through community policing,” he said.

By Friday calm had returned in the area and the residents could be seen jubilating. Police however continued maintaining its presence.

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