MASINDI RESIDENT JUDGE STEPS DOWN IN NFA, OMUKAMA CASE

By Yosam Gucwaki

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi

The delivery of the judgment of the case between National Forestry Authority (NFA) and the Omukama of BunyoroKitara Kingdom Solomon GafabusaIguru failed to take off yesterday at Masindi high court.

National Forestry Authority (NFA) dragged Bunyoros King and Hoima Sugar Ltd to Masindi high court in 2016 for allegedly encroaching and degrading Bugoma Central Forest Reserve in Hoima District.

Counsel Robert Irumba of Tumusiime Irumba& Co. advocates who represented the king said that the Assistant registrar Simon Kintu Ziruntusa told them that Justice Rugadya Albert Atwooki who was supposed to deliver the judgement stepped down adding that Kintu did not give them the reason why he did so.

Irumba added that the registrar told them that the judgment will be delivered by another judge on the 18^th January 2019.

The NFA also accused the king of fraudulent concealment when he allegedly applied for a freehold title for part of the forest which was granted by the Uganda Land Commission (ULC).

The Omukama is jointly sued with Hoima Sugar Ltd and ULC. The forestry authority is seeking a court declaration that the kings stay and utilization of the forest reserve is illegal and amounts to trespass.

The land under dispute is located on Plot 216, Buhanguzi Block 2, Hoima held by Hoima Sugar Ltd.

The Omukama denies the allegations. The kingdom contends that the disputed part of the forest is an ancestral place of Kyangwali, which forms the original seat of the kingdom headquarters, and is not part of Bugoma.