STAFF REPORTER
The family of 91-year-old Valeriano Kibahigire Kambamu in Nyabubaare Village, Rwanyangye Parish, Kamwezi Sub-County, Rukiga District, is living in fear after a group of agitated residents destroyed a two-acre banana plantation on their land.
This plantation is part of a larger 60-acre property stretching from Rwanyangye Parish to Nyakitabire Hill in Muhanga Town Council.
On October 18, 2024, police arrested five individuals in connection with the attack: Aruho Lawrence (45) and Tindimwebwa Baker (38) of Nyakitabire cell in Rwanyangye Parish, Kamwezi Sub-County; Namanya Promise (37), from Nyabubaare cell in Muhanga Town Council; Ndabwine Hilary (38), a Muhanga Town Council resident; and Tumuranze Laban (38), also from Nyabubaare cell in Rwenyangye Parish.
The Kibahigire family is currently involved in a legal dispute over this land and has filed a case against eight individuals, including former Rukiga Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Fred Nayebare Kyamuzigita, for criminal trespass.
Mary Kihembo Kibahigire, the caretaker of the family land, expressed deep concern over land grabbers who, rather than follow legal channels, have resorted to using organized criminal gangs to threaten the family estate and its workers. She noted that these gangs often manage to evade law enforcement even after arrests.
Despite repeatedly reporting these organized and funded gangs to security officials, Kibahigire remains unsatisfied with the police response to her complaints. She criticized the police for lacking sufficient resources, leading to delays in incident response, and suggested that political influences may be affecting the effectiveness of police action.
