Increase in land-related cases worries Ibanda leaders

LAND WRANGLES |

The courtroom was tense as an old man and his three sons stood in opposing stands. They were there to hear the court's judgment on a case they had been pursuing in court. Their full attention was on Ibanda Grade One Magistrate Ciana Owomugisha.

The plaintiff, Evunari Tinkamanyire, 65, a resident of Kagongo division in Ibanda Municipality, dragged his sons to court, accusing them of forcefully occupying his two pieces of land — one in Rukokoma and the other in Kyarutanga, both in Kagongo division. He said as a result, they had denied him access to the land since 2017.

John Tukamuhwebwa, Peter Besigye, and Galaciano Tinkamanyire claimed the land, saying it belonged to their mother, Tinkamanyire's second wife. The men, in their 20s, were, however, found guilty of trespassing on and using the land illegally.

They were ordered to vacate. Court also ordered that they pay Tinkamanyire sh8m in damages.

"They would not allow me to access my land. They would chase me with stones whenever I went to check on my cassava, banana and coffee gardens," Evunari said. He bought one of the contested pieces of land with his first wife and that he inherited the other from his father, he said.

Rising land conflicts

Officials and the Police say this conflict is one of the many land wrangles and land-related crimes in Ibanda district. Unfortunately, some families do not seek redress, leading to murders.

This was the fate of an old woman in Rwengwe I in Kikyenkye sub-county, Ibanda, who was allegedly killed by her grandson last month after she refused to give him part of her land.

The Police say the suspect is still on the run.

Mary Kamaduka Bashongoka, the Ibanda deputy resident district commissioner (RDC), said about 20 land-related cases are recorded by the RDC's office every month. Most of the victims are women, girls and elderly persons.

Misguided thinking

Bashongoka said many people still think that when the husband dies, the property is inherited by his children which is wrong. "In some cases, the children and relatives try to push the wife off the land, saying she should return to her parents' home," she added.

"What is even more worrying is that even educated people fight over land. This is greed and it is unacceptable."

She says in some cases, the older children do not want to share the land with their younger siblings, especially sisters.

Hands off my land

Birekeraho said: "The mentality among Ugandan children that they must inherit their parents' property promotes laziness."

"That is why such children turn against their parents. However, it is up to the parent to decide who gets what," Birekeraho added.

Advice

Bashongoka advised Ugandans to embrace the culture of writing Wills, to avoid family conflicts when they die.

"Youth should work hard and buy their own property, instead of waiting for their parents'," counsels Birekeraho.

Property grabber punished

Meanwhile, the Grade One Magistrate Court ordered another property grabber in Bisheshe division, to vacate a commercial house that it said he was illegally occupying. Raymond Busingye was found guilty of occupying Amos Bwomezi's house by force, claiming they had bought it from the latter's wife. Court ordered Busingye to pay Bwomezi sh5m in damages and sh4.1m for illegal use of the property.

Land-related crimes increase

"People tend to take matters into their own hands, while those who are entrusted with the Will connive with some family members to cheat the rightful owners," the RDC said.

The officer in charge of investigating crime at Ibanda, Paul Muhenda, said greed for inheritance has increased lawlessness, such as forgery of Wills by family members in order to fleece off the rightful beneficiaries.

He added that the Police registers about 10 cases related to land conflict every week and that this has also increased the rate of domestic violence.