Local leaders of Busia and Kimwanyi Local Council areas in Wandegeya Parish, Kawempe Division have come out to the public seeking protection following renewed eviction fears.
Led by the chairman of Busia Zone, Abdu Ssekajja, the leaders asked the authorities to restrain Makerere University authorities to desist from misleading the public about their stay on Katanga land.
The troubled residents say that they are legally occupying the land after the High Court declared them bonafide occupants on the disputed acres since in 2015, the High Court ruled that the Katanga valley land was occupied by four family members and their licensees who are now bonafide occupants thus their rights are well protected under the laws governing ownership of land.
“We have read reports and statements calling us land grabbers but I want to put the record clear that we are bibanja holders and the court ruled that we are legally in occupation,” Ssekajja said.
He appealed to Makerere University to prosecute their appeal rather than resorting to illegal means of evicting them. The restlessness in Katanga has been caused by a pending appeal in which Makerere University is seeking to overturn the 2015 High Court judgment.
In October last year, the High Court stopped government security agencies from arresting Katanga land occupants in regard to the same dispute.
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has since asked the Kampala Capital City Authority) technical wing to halt the impending evictions in Katanga near Wandegeya to stave off what he described as undesired consequences.
