NICHOLAS A
Residents of Greater Kabungo Ward in Kakukuru-Rwenanura Town Council, Ntungamo District, are struggling to reclaim 144.8 hectares of land that has long been in their possession but is now under the control of the Kabungo Bataka Tweterane Ahabwekibungo Association.
According to the land’s Certificate of Title, dated May 14, 2015, this 144.8 hectares—identified as Block 41, Plot 63, in Kabungo Rweikiniro—was officially transferred to the association.
Asaf Baryayebwa, a resident of Kyamugashe 1 Cell in Kakukuru-Rwenanura Town Council, says that since birth, his family has used this land for food production and animal rearing. He explained that in 2012, they started hearing rumors that the land, which had been in their hands for generations, had been given to the association without their knowledge. He stressed the need for justice to prevent them from losing their land.
Masiko John, an elder and former LC2 chairperson for Kabungo Ward for over 30 years, told journalists that the land in question was initially communal land, used by community members for grazing, crop farming, and settlement. He added that it wasn’t until a group of residents formed the Kabungo Bataka Tweterane Ahabwekibungo Association and requested control of the land that the dispute began.
Kahinda Misach, Mayor of Kakukuru-Rwenanura Town Council, expressed concerns over the internal conflict, noting that all involved are residents of the same area. He highlighted that Kabungo Ward is known for its fertile, mineral-rich soils, which may be fueling the tensions.
During a meeting between the concerned residents, association members, and district authorities, Mr. Rubajuguta, the Ntungamo District Senior Land Management Officer, clarified that the disputed land, being a hill, belongs to the government. He explained that all hills, mountains, and swamps are government property. He urged the complainants to accept this reality and suggested they join the Kabungo Bataka Tweterane Ahabwekibungo Association if they wished to benefit from the land.
Mbabazi Wallen, chairperson of the Kabungo Bataka Tweterane Ahabwekibungo Association, said that the association had followed all the necessary procedures to acquire the land. He revealed that residents’ renewed interest in the land stems from the minerals soon to be mined there. Wallen emphasized that the association is focused on protecting the land as government property.
Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Byamukama Isiah Kanyamahane, advised the residents to accept the situation, stating that the land had originally been communal and should now be left in the hands of the association.
Despite this, some complainants have refused to give up their claim to the land and have threatened to take up arms against anyone who tries to prevent them from using it.
