Simpson M
Residents of Nyamuniga, Kihanga parish, Buhunga sub-county are gripped with fear amidst escalating land disputes leading to property damage and threats.
The tension arose when Kemirembe Hope, the LC2 chairperson, refused residents access to her land for constructing a community road.
Despite residents forcibly digging the road on her land, Kemirembe reported the incident to Rukungiri Central Police, accusing locals of trespassing.
Residents express apprehension, particularly after a recent incident where Martin Akankwasa discovered his house burnt to ashes. Martin alleges that Kemirembe’s son, Linus, orchestrated the arson in retaliation for the ongoing land disputes.
On Wednesday evening, Linus visited Martin’s home seeking his elder brother, Innocent. Martin, feeling uneasy about the situation, asked Linus to leave. Consequently, Martin opted to stay in his grandfather’s house to safeguard the children, leaving their other house unattended.
The following morning, Martin was alerted by a worker that Linus was seen on their veranda. Upon investigation, Martin witnessed Linus fleeing on a motorcycle while their property in the other house was engulfed in flames, amounting to approximately 2 million shillings in damages.
Efforts to apprehend Linus proved futile as he disappeared without a trace.
According to councilors Herbert Kalamuzi and Lukia Katushabe, it is regrettable that a fellow leader impedes development in the area, especially considering the road would benefit everyone, including Kemirembe herself.
They caution that residents’ bitterness may escalate into violence if authorities fail to intervene promptly.
Kemirembe refutes the accusations leveled against her, asserting that she desires the area’s development. She claims residents unlawfully destroyed her coffee plantation despite her offering alternative land for the road construction. She insists that she never permitted the cutting down of her coffee but provided an alternative space, which residents rejected, citing difficulties in road construction.
 | ReplyForwardAdd reaction |
