The Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has intervened in land disputes in Mubende District allegedly brought about by a one Mafumu Paul who residents dread with scorn.
It is alleged that Mafumu with the help of some officials on the district’s land board, the local council chairperson and police fraudulently obtained titles of land already belonging to the local residents, most especially in Buwekula South constituency.
Residents accuse Mafumu of malicious damage of their property and threatening their lives while dubiously claiming ownership of the land in the area.
“Our father died on 20 March 2019 before securing his land titles from the land office. Immediately after his death, Mafumu Paul came claiming ownership of land with titles plot no. 306 and 304 resulting from administrative case numbers of 78 2016 and 63 2016,” Nakazibwe Hanifar, who represented the now deceased Nyanyitono Mustafa’s family whose land Mafumu claims ownership, said.
Nakazibwe said her family has settled on the land since 1960 and had bought the plots from both Kevina Nankya and Kijambu Livingstone.
A lady named Grace Namatovu who said she is a victim of Mafumu’s actions revealed that she had earlier acquired land from Nyonyitono family only to be violently kicked off by Mafumu. Namatovu said her farm produce was maliciously damaged by Mafumu’s men who threatened her life if she didn’t leave the plot of land.
Nnalongo Nakakande, who is allegedly a victim of Mafumu, said she entrusted him to help her acquire the title for the land she is settled on, but nothing has been done todate.
“I entrusted Mafumu to help me get the title for my plot of land. He asked for details such as my national ID, and photos of my children who I wanted on the title. I also gave him my land confessions. He hasn’t done anything about it to date,” she lamented.
While addressing residents about the matter, Nabakooba urged the area leaders to compile a report detailing the genesis of the land conflicts.
She also encouraged residents to acquire letters of administration for their land saying that the culprits usually take advantage of such loopholes.
“I encourage the family and other residents who could be in a similar situation to get letters of administration. These people usually take advantage if the y learn that you have no official papers to help you claim ownership on the land,” she said, adding, “the area leaders should also compile a report detailing the genesis of the matter so that my office can clearly understand what is going on.”
“The land ministry is going to get to the heart of this matter. We need to investigate why officials at the ministry rushed to issue Mafumu the land titles.”
The Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Mubende District, Hope Grania Nakazibwe, encouraged residents to always report such cases of fraud to them saying that would help them be able do something about it when it’s still early.
“One of the challenges we have as your leaders is that sometimes you keep quiet with these issues. I encourage you to always report land fraud cases early enough. This would help us get to the heart of the matter early,” she said.
The district Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Birunji Abubaker, however told Nabakooba they had tried to resolve some of the land issues in the area. He said some conflicts have however persisted despite their efforts.
He however revealed that they had established a cooperation with the Judiciary in the district to deal with land conflicts in the area.
Buwekola South MP Ndoli Williams Museveni said he had taken the matter to Parliament so an amicable solution to the land conflicts in the area can be reached.
Ndoli assured the lands minister that him and other area leaders would compile a report detailing the genesis of the land conflicts in the area.
