Land wrangles: Organisations move to save Mityana elderly

CRIME|LAND|WRANGLES

MITYANA - As elderly persons in Mityana continue to cry out for help over the land disputes which have rocked their area, leaving many implicated in criminal offences, government officials have started paying keen interest in the cases.

The officials have been joined by the Uganda Bibanja Holders Association, a body that unites the bibanja owners in the country.

Many elderly people in Mityana district have in the recent weeks accused the Police of criminalising land matters, to the extent that many are facing charges such as malicious damage and criminal trespass.

After reading the story that was published in New Vision last week, the information minister, Judith Nabakooba, visited Kasifa Nankya, 85, one of the victims of land wrangles.

 "I have heard from her and her relatives and I have talked to the Resident District commissioner to immediately intervene," she said.

The LC5 chairperson, Joseph Luzige, said he was collecting all the information about the victims.

Mastula Nambatya, the woman councillor for Busimbi Division, said officials from the Justice Centre Uganda had contacted her, asking for the information about the affected people in her division.

Abraham Luwalira, the chairperson of the Uganda Bibanja Holders Association, said: "We ask the Police to be careful while handling such cases. If someone has lived at the kibanja for over 50 years, before arresting them for trespass, investigate."

He also met with residents of Bekiina village, Butayunja sub-county, where over 100 families are facing eviction.