KARUJUBU DIVISION DRAGGED TO COURT

By Innocent Abooki

www.mknewslink.com

In Masindi

The family of Late Kiragura Ezira Tiraga of Karujubu cell dragged Karujubu division to court over land grabbing.

These two were seen on 5^th may 2019 in court that was held at Masindi District Chambers where the Karujubu division was being accused of stealing land.

The ten accredited land laying on the six kilometer off Masindi- Biiso-Buliisa road is said to be customary belonging to the family of Late Kiragura Ezira Tiraga.

According to the letter written to the chair person Masindi Municipality dated on 23rd April 2019, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) surveyed the land for Masindi-Biiso road construction but the LC 3 Karujubu Division Mr. Bigirwa Cleophus, the Town Clerk Karujubu Division and the LC 1 Karujubu Cell Mr Mbabazi Steven refused to sign on the compensation form provided by the UNRA claiming that the part of estate is owned by Karujubu Division.

In the same letter also stated that Mr. Bigirwa and other two officials mentioned called a private and unplanned meeting where their all phones were switched off and placed on the tables during in that meeting.

Later Mr. Bigirwa, the town clerk and the LC1 Karujubu Cell asked them to write a letter disowning a part of the remaining land for the Division Authority so as they can sign for them, and this claimed that the statement was a total indicator of disservice to their family and a sign of grabbing.

However the LC 3 Karujubu Mr. Bigirwa Cleophus said that in 2009 the division allowed people to use the land but not to own it.

He added that he refused to sign for the other upper land so as to avoid falling in problems since the family of Late Kiragura never had enough evidence over the land thus Bategeka Cooperative society gave it to them, during the secret meeting to avoid interruption.

“I have no any interest on land since its government property and the overseer; however I blame the family of Late Kiragura for secretly meeting the UNRA compensating for the upper part of the land,” Mr. Bigirwa added.

The LC1 Karujubu cell Mr. Katusabe Stephen asked the family of the Late Kiragura to have evidence either from the fore ancestors or residents.

However, the Administrator Mr. Robert Kiragura said that they owned the land through customary though the father never narrated the story how he got the land.

He also added that his late father Kiragura didn’t leave behind any will or written document and in 2009 the LC1 refused to sign for them because he was also a member of Bategeka Cooperative Society that’s why even the same issue wasn’t resolved.

“The land belongs to the family of Late Kiragura but not Bategeka Cooperative Society and Karujubu Division because since I was born in early 1960’s, Late Kiragura owned the land and carried out all his activities on the same land, however the late died abruptly before writing the will,” Mr. Batrumayo Mugisa a resident narrated.

When our reporter contacted the LC V chairman Masindi district Hon Byaruhanga Cosmos said that the matter haven’t been resolved since they are waiting to hear witnesses from the neighbors, since the disputed people have occupied the land for more than forty years.

“According to the Uganda land law if someone has stayed on land for more than forty years, he/she owns it customary, however we are still in hand to find out true land owner,” hon. Cosmos said.

Hon. Cosmos added that the Karujubu division has no any document regarding the land and also blamed the LC 3 chairperson for not being fair.

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