{UAH} NRM a Prison is better than a University - NOW?????!!!

Govt, Kabale University fight over 101-acre land

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Thursday, 24 April 2014 23:14

Written by DERRICK KIYONGA

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Kabale University is accusing the government of grabbing its land measuring 101 acres. On April 4, 2014, the university petitioned the land division of the High court in Kampala, demanding that government stops encroaching on its land in Kabale district.

The defendants in the suit are listed as the Attorney General (AG) and Kabale district local government. Through GW Kanyeihamba and Company Advocates, the university is seeking an order of eviction.  In the petition, the university claims that illicit developments are being erected on the land.

"As a result of the defendants' unlawful reversal of what had been properly donated to the university and agreed to by all parties, contractors have proceeded and continue to illegally enter the land," the plaint partly reads.

The institution claims the land was donated to it in 2009 by the people of Kabale and the district leadership holds it on behalf of the university. The plaint states that as a principal founder of the institution, the Kabale local government has declined to contribute an annual Shs 30m, despite an earlier commitment.

The institution alleges that the current district council, under the stewardship of Patrick Keihwa, is split on whether to retain all the 101 acres or give some to councillors. The plaint further states that the central government intervened after protracted exchanges amongst local leaders, the university governing council and management.

On its intervention, the government decided that the university retains 98.5 acres, and the remaining  2.5 acres be allocated to the Justice Law and Order Sector. But the university says that on August 2, 2013, it received a letter from the Gender, Labour, and Social Development ministry Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana, instructing otherwise.

In the letter, addressed to the chief administrative officer (CAO), Bigirimana said a team from his ministry and local leaders agreed that four of the 98.5 acres be allocated to the Gender ministry for construction of a remand home for criminal offenders.

Court documents also show that the CAO was instructed by Bigirimana to direct the district land surveyor to formally transfer ownership of the land to the ministry. On April 30, 2013, the council debated the motion and reversed ownership of the university's land.

The university asserts that a notice of intention to sue was given to the defendants but the same was ignored. In the order dated April 7, 2014, the defendants have been asked to file their defence within 15 days – lest judgment is passed without their input.

dkiyonga@gmail.com

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