The Uganda Police Force has refused to comply with an order from the State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja, directing the reinstatement of individuals evicted from the contested Kireka Police Barracks land.
The directive follows a report by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which deemed the evictions unlawful and confirmed the land’s ownership by the National Housing and Construction Company Limited (NHCC).
The controversy dates back to last year, when then Deputy Inspector General of Police, Major General Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, ordered the eviction of alleged illegal occupants from the land. The operation, executed jointly with the army, was marked by violence and widespread destruction of civilian property, reportedly valued in billions of shillings.
Minister Mayanja’s Directive
Last Thursday, Minister Mayanja visited the disputed land, which encompasses five zones: Kiganda Zone, Kireka D, Acholi Quarters (Banda 1), Katoogo, and Mbuya Kinawataka, within Nakawa Division and Kira Municipality.
During the visit, he declared the evictions unlawful, basing his directive on the findings of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
The investigative report revealed that NHCC legally acquired the land from Kireka Estates Ltd in the 1960s. It also criticised the Uganda Police Force for failing to adhere to legal eviction procedures and established that the Police were not the rightful owners of the property.
Addressing the evicted residents, Minister Mayanja assured them of their legal rights to occupy the land, citing the statutory protection for individuals who have lived on a piece of land for a prolonged period.
“The law protects you. Nobody can force you out of this land without negotiation or compensation by National Housing,” he said.
Police Stand Their Ground
In a firm response, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke reiterated the Police’s claim to the land and accused the evicted individuals of attempting to encroach on it under the guise of victimhood.
“What we did was to prevent an invasion. People brought building materials such as bricks and sand and started constructing houses on police land. These actions are a clear case of land grabbing, and we have taken serious measures to protect what is ours,” Rusoke asserted.
He also dismissed the Minister’s verbal directives, insisting that the Police require formal written communication from the Ministry of Lands before taking any action.
“We have not received any official correspondence from the Ministry of Lands. If they have concerns, they should write to us or engage through proper channels. Until then, we stand by our actions,” he added.
Escalating Tensions
Despite the Minister’s assurances, attempts by residents to return to their homes over the weekend were met with violent resistance from security forces. Atanus Musoke, Defence Secretary of Kiganda Zone, reported incidents of teargas and live bullets being used to disperse residents.
“The Police are determined to keep us out despite the Minister’s orders. On Friday and Saturday, they used force to stop people from reclaiming their homes,” Musoke lamented.
The displaced residents, numbering over 4,000, are now planning protests and intend to march to the Ministry of Lands to demand justice. However, tensions remain high as security forces maintain a heavy presence in the affected zones.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Henry Obbo, the Ministry of Lands spokesperson, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to repeated calls.
Meanwhile, the evicted residents continue to live in uncertainty, torn between the Minister’s directive and the Police’s defiance. With accusations of land grabbing on one side and allegations of unlawful evictions on the other, the dispute underscores the complex and contentious nature of land ownership in Uganda.
As the standoff persists, the affected families await clarity and justice, while the larger question of accountability looms over the institutions involved.
