EDITOR
A stormy inspection tour of public land in Kabale Municipality on Friday brought simmering tensions to the surface, with Assistant Resident District Commissioner (ARDC) Martin Niwataho and several district leaders demanding accountability from the district surveyor over unmarked public property.
During the field tour, ARDC Niwataho, joined by a delegation of district councillors, clashed with District Surveyor Prosper Ahimbisiibwe over what they described as a persistent failure to demarcate and safeguard land belonging to the district. The failure, they argued, has exposed vital assets to encroachment and illegal acquisition.
The drama unfolded when the leaders demanded visible proof of district boundaries, only for the surveyor to point to a lone road-reserve peg—an act that sparked outrage among the councilors.
ARDC Niwataho didn’t mince his words, warning Ahimbisiibwe that unless all district land boundaries are properly opened and marked, he risks arrest “before next week ends.” He further cautioned the surveyor against misleading the councillors and reminded him of the public’s stake in district-owned assets.
The group of vocal councillors, including Baker Champion (Kahungye Sub-county), Gilbert Niwanganyira (Butanda), Leopold Twesigye (Central Division), Verah Tumuhekyi (Central & Northern Division), Vice Chairperson Miria Tugume, Alex Owamani (Kamuganguzi), and older persons’ representatives Richard Mporera and District Speaker Flavia Kanagizi Nyinakiiza, accused Ahimbisiibwe of negligence.
Speaker Nyinakiiza and Councillor Mporera questioned why the full council was not consulted when Kabale Municipality’s physical planner altered existing land subdivisions. They raised concerns about the legal ownership of some plots, implying that some land may have already slipped out of the district’s hands due to poor oversight.
In response, Ahimbisiibwe dismissed claims of wrongdoing, instead citing longstanding suspicion from some councillors who, he said, believe he has ulterior motives, including selling the land. He appealed for more time to complete a thorough boundary-opening exercise and reminded the gathering that the district had already agreed to bring in an external surveyor to handle contested areas.
