Residents Accuses Pastor Walugembe Of Torture On Katanga Land

Residents of Katanga in Wandegeya have accused city controversial pastor Daniel Walugembe of torturing them with court cases regarding ownership of bibanja on Katanga land.

At a meeting chaired by their leaders led by Bonny M Kasujja before Kawempe Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lukka Kagenyi pleaded for help from the government.

They said that they are living in fear as some of their colleagues are either on the run while others are facing criminal charges before courts of law.

Those facing criminals including a 69-year-old city dentist Dr Lule Ntwatwa Ssekiziyivu jointly charged with Stuart Kateregga over multiple charges resulting from Kibanja dispute at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Court.

Others are; Moses Besimira, charged at Law Development Centre (LDC) court, businessman Richard Kigozi and elder Hassan Ssegawa are also charged before the Chief Magistrates Court at Kanyanya in Kawempe Division.

According to the residents, Pastor Walugembe is working in collusion with his henchmen, Darius Mutesa alias Muzungu, and a one Maama Eva.

Salim Kato Kiyingi, secretary for Kimwanyi zone asked the RCC to intervene and help in expelling the said persons especially Maama Eva and Mutesa from their area who have turned into very dangerous characters to other residents.

Buganda Kingdom local chief, Milly Namubiru also expressed disappointment in the way the city pastor is colluding with local leaders to torture Kabaka’s subjects who are the rightful bibanja owners.

Namubiru insisted that the RCC uses his office to summon the said pastor Walugembe to have a meeting with residents and show them the boundaries of his 28 acres of kibanja in Katanga valley noting that they are scared that his claim for the piece of kibanja may sit on other people’s pieces.

At the meeting, a resolution was passed that the RCC, Kagenyi should organize a big general meeting so as residents can interface with pastor Walugembe and that he answers for his misdeeds

RCC Kagnyi who heads security in the entire division agreed with the residents to sermonize the pastor but also asked people to maintain peace in the densely populated slum area.

“When I came to Kawempe, one of the things I needed to work on was to solve the Katanga land question. This can only be achieved through peaceful means. I want you to maintain peace,” Lukka said

He promised that he will invite pastor Walugembe for the meeting to interface with the residents to create harmony in the area.

The Katanga land question has spanned for more than two decades when the family of four people sued Makerere University and the Commissioner Land registration, a case that resulted in a 2015 judgment.

According to an area elder, Kasujja, the court judgment gave all bibanja holders as Bonafide occupants on land.

He asked the authorities to always consider reading the Justice Owiny Dollo judgment in order to solve the disputes on Katanga land.

“We all know that the land is owned by Makerere University but we are surprised that one person is claiming ownership of the entire area. This is so painful to us who own small plots. If he is right in the claims, let him come and bring measurements rather than taking us to police and courts without justification,” Kasujja said.

 

Pastor Walugembe was not in the meeting nor represented as his henchmen Mutesa and Maama Eva seen running from the meeting as resident asking for their immediate arrest