MUGABE ROBERT
RUKUNGIRI– Residents of Kifunjo Cell, Nyakinengo Parish in Nyakagyeme Sub County, Rukungiri District, along with local leaders who preferred anonymity, have collaborated with Patience Turigye, a 52-year-old widow, mother of four, and caregiver of four grandchildren, to call for state investigations into a land dispute involving them and Canon Caleb Babihuga, a retired banker.
Canon Caleb Babihuga, originally from Nyakinengo Parish but having spent much of his career working in Kampala, is accused of encroaching on land in his home area. After his retirement, Babihuga prioritized local activities and acquired land with a title, subsequently evicting people who had previously purchased plots on which they had constructed commercial buildings, making up half of Omwirwaniro Trading Center.
Babihuga claims to have purchased the land from the late Kenneth Tumwesigye, the husband of Patience Turigye, in 2019, though this alleged sale was without any written agreement or witnesses. In 2022, Babihuga accused Turigye of trespassing on the land. The dispute was taken to the Local Council Courts and later to the Rukungiri Chief Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Her Worship Mary Edith Mbabazi under case reference CV-LD-0019/2019, where Babihuga lost the case.
However, in 2024, Babihuga appealed to the High Court with the assistance of his lawyers and won the case. The court ordered Patience Turigye to pay compensation amounting to 29 million UGX. Patience Turigye, unable to accept the judgment, sought to appeal the decision but has struggled to access her case file from the police and other responsible offices, which has delayed the process.
Turigye, now at risk of eviction, is receiving demand letters from lawyers and is calling for state intervention. She alleges that Babihuga, due to his financial advantage, is taking undue advantage to encroach on her land.
CUE…..PATIENCE LAND RR.
The loss of the commercial houses in Omwirwaniro Trading Center has left many residents, along with local leaders who prefer anonymity out of fear of harassment, feeling depressed and voiceless in their pursuit of justice.
CUE…..RESIDENTS LAND RR.
One resident described the late Kenneth Tumwesigye, who is accused of selling his land to Babihuga, as a man who struggled with alcoholism and was mentally unstable, making him vulnerable to making poor decisions.
CUE.IN…WOMAN LAND RR.
Adrine Kiconco, the Chairperson of LC1 Kifunjo Cell, expressed disbelief at how Babihuga allegedly bought the land without the knowledge of senior citizens and local leaders. She stressed that the Chief Magistrate had visited the land, listened to the locals, and resolved the case in favor of Turigye. Kiconco further questioned how Babihuga lost in both the Local Council Courts and the Chief Magistrate Court but managed to win at the High Court level.
CUE.IN….ADRINE LAND RR.
Her Worship Mbabazi Mary Edith also expressed her astonishment at how Babihuga won in the High Court and called on the Court of Appeal to reconsider the woman’s case.
CUE..IN..HER WORSHIP MARY EDITH LAND RR.
Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Rotarian Steven Nsubuga Bewayo, expressed frustration that Turigye was asked to produce the file when the court has the authority to summon it directly.
CUE..IN… BEWAYO LAND ENG.
Canon Caleb Babihuga has dismissed the accusations, attributing them to what he described as the “madness” of the defendant.
CUE.IN………………………….CALEB LAND RR.
