By Musa Mbogo
Residents of Mpeggwe Village in Wakiso District’s Kakiri Sub County will now enjoy some sleep after State Minister for Lands Dr Sam Mayanja ordered security agencies to immediately arrest two ‘notorious land grabbers’ who have allegedly been tormenting and giving them sleepless nights for the past 15 years.
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Kakiri Police immediately executed Minister Mayanja’s orders, arresting Mike Joseph Mawejje and his legal advisor. The duo’s troubles began after residents and the real owners of the village land complained to the minister who is famous for travelling to “the ground” to sort out land issues. Through Jackson Kikonyogo, the heir and administrator of the ‘Mamba Family’ land, the complainants accused the Mpeggwe Village Chairman and the local police of working with the wealthy and well-connected ‘land thieves’ to disturb their peace. Kikonyogo also labelled the Kakiri Police Station OC a ‘land grabbers’ puppet and ally,’ accusing his officers of escorting ‘criminals’ undertaking illegal operations to slash down people’s plantations. He also reported to the minister that Mawejje had collaborated with Kakiri Police to throw him and his pregnant wife into Kigo Prison where his wife would later give birth.
The land in the question measures up to two square miles and is home to two villages. Mawejje claims that he bought this same chunk of land in 2003 from Rogers Ddungu who is said to have acquired the same from a company called ENPAT. Mawejje says he handed in his bid following an advert in Bukedde newspaper. He adds that ENPAT administrator Herbert Ddungo effected the transfer of the land’s title into his name (Mawejje’s).
But Kikonyogo made it clear that his late father had acquired the land in contention in 1923 and he never secured any loan from any lending institution as Mawejje has been alleging. He went ahead to offer Minister Mayanja a copy of their land title and asked him to check in the Lands records to ascertain the truth.
Erias Musisi, a resident of Mpeggwe, said he was born, raised and has been living on that very land. Musisi went on to note that his mother died at the age of 100, and that before her death, Mawejje and his group had cut down her plantations. His pine plantations were not spared either: they were slashed in 2013, leaving him crying and staring at the loss of his investment. He further narrated that he has on many occasions been dragged to courts of laws and imprisoned. An overwhelmed Mawejje described Minister Mayanja’s intervention into their land matter as a ‘miracle’ and asked Dr Mayanja to ensure that the village gets justice.
When it was his time to address the people of Mpeggwe Village, Kakiri Sub County in Wakiso District, Minister Mayanja declared Kikonyogo’s land title a valid one, making it clear that there was no encumbrance on the title. He further clarified: “Special titles happen when the original title is lost, but if the original title is in existence, there can’t be any other title.” Mayanja also declared that ENPAT could have been a victim of a scam, and advised Mawejje to go back to this company and claim his money. He went on to declare that as far as he was concerned, Mawejje was a trespasser. He ordered him (Mawejje) to pay for damages suffered by the locals over the years. He further directed the RDC to make changes at Kakiri Police Station with the view of weeding out officers who had abetted land grabbing in the area.
Reminding locals that Gen Museveni made it clear that anybody who engages in land grabbing should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of Uganda, Minister Mayanja went ahead and ordered the arrest of Mawejje and his legal advisor. Police immediately executed the directive and arrested the duo. Mayanja’s directives sparked off jubilations among locals who expressed happiness by singing praises to the minister and dancing their previous torment away, caring less about the downpour. Some locals even shed tears of joy as they thanked God for remembering them and sending Mayanja to their village while others were heard saying they will now have sleep after over 15 years of suffering at the hands of land grabbers.
Sounding very relieved and delighted, Kikonyogo saluted Minister Mayanja for his intervention in the land wrangle, and praised Wakiso RDC Justin Mbabazi for the great she has been doing in the district. Kikonyogo asked RDC Mbabazi to ensure that the village elects an LC One Chairman since the leader they have was not voted for by the people. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 0200900416 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).