{UAH} Janet Mu7 takes over ex-prisoners' land
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Uweso takes over ex-prisoners' land
Property belonging to one of the people residing in a hostel located on the disputed land is loaded onto a truck after the eviction on Friday. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
By PAUL TAJUBA & AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA
Posted Sunday, July 21 2013 at 01:00
Posted Sunday, July 21 2013 at 01:00
In Summary
The land. The disputed land, which housed the Uganda Discharged Prisoners Aid Society offices, has been taken over by Uweso, which wants to build a hospital there.
KAMPALA.
Court brokers and the police have evicted the Uganda Discharged Prisoners Aid Society (UDPAS) from a prime city piece of land it had been occupying for five decades.
The disputed land located on Plot 100, Block 243 on Spring Road adjacent to Kiswa Health Centre in Bugolobi, is claimed by the Uganda Women Effort to Save Orphans (Uweso), which plans to construct a children's hospital there.
The disputed land located on Plot 100, Block 243 on Spring Road adjacent to Kiswa Health Centre in Bugolobi, is claimed by the Uganda Women Effort to Save Orphans (Uweso), which plans to construct a children's hospital there.
UDPAS leaders say they were surprised to learn recently that their land had been claimed by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which later gave it to Uweso despite their repeated requests to be granted a land title since 1993.
The disputed land, measuring two acres, houses UDPAS offices, hostels, a garage and a washing bay.
The disputed land, measuring two acres, houses UDPAS offices, hostels, a garage and a washing bay.
Two members of UDPS, who attempted to interrupt the eviction exercise on Friday, claiming that the executors had stolen Shs30,000 belonging to one of the tenants, were arrested by police as others looked on helplessly.
After the eviction, Uweso staff were seen ferrying in office furniture to occupy the dilapidated offices formerly belonging to UDPAS.
After the eviction, Uweso staff were seen ferrying in office furniture to occupy the dilapidated offices formerly belonging to UDPAS.
Both court brokers and police said they were enforcing a court order issued recently.
"These people (UDPAS) have been aware that they will be evicted any time and we are just here to provide security," said Mr Wesley Nganizi, the Jinja Road Police Station commander, who oversaw the eviction.
"These people (UDPAS) have been aware that they will be evicted any time and we are just here to provide security," said Mr Wesley Nganizi, the Jinja Road Police Station commander, who oversaw the eviction.
Uweso lawyer Titus Kamya said: "There has been a dispute between us and those people but court early this year ruled in our favour and ordered them to vacate. So, it is not out of the blue that we are evicting them today."
But Mr David Aliobe, the UDPAS executive director, condemned the eviction, saying it was in disregard of the 1995 Constitution which gives bonafide occupants first priority to buy land.
"There is no doubt that we are the rightful owners of this land but because those in power have access to twist the records, we are denied the right to renew our occupancy and the Uweso people instead secure the title deed," he said.
Mr Aliobe said the organisation had for the last five decades reintegrated several ex-prisoners back into the community as useful and law abiding citizens and used proceeds from money collected from tenants on the contested land to give children of inmates school fees bursaries.
"There is no doubt that we are the rightful owners of this land but because those in power have access to twist the records, we are denied the right to renew our occupancy and the Uweso people instead secure the title deed," he said.
Mr Aliobe said the organisation had for the last five decades reintegrated several ex-prisoners back into the community as useful and law abiding citizens and used proceeds from money collected from tenants on the contested land to give children of inmates school fees bursaries.
"We think the work we have been doing for this country is good but it is unfortunate that the powers that be have refused to listen to our cry and these unprivileged Ugandans are going to suffer," he added.
UDPAS had earlier asked President Museveni to intervene in the matter.
UDPAS had earlier asked President Museveni to intervene in the matter.
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