A group of recently evicted residents from Nansana, Ganda, and Lubigi are in the final stages of preparing a lawsuit against the Attorney General, the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), and the Buganda Land Board.
Represented by Eyotre and Company Advocates, the residents have signed a petition to sue for compensation, claiming unlawful eviction despite having paid ground rent and being fully registered as rightful landowners by the Buganda Land Board.
Samuel Eyotre, the residents’ lawyer, stated, “We are in the final stages of doing what is required to file a lawsuit. We believe there has been a gross violation of human rights due to the manner in which the evictions were carried out, with no sensitivity or notices given to the evictees.” He emphasized that many businesses, with capital worth millions of shillings, were destroyed during the evictions.
Eyotre also pointed out the liability of the Buganda Land Board for issuing land titles and collecting rent over the years.
“We think that the Buganda Land Board is actually liable for having issued the land titles ‘kyapa mungalo’ and having collected busuulu from these people over the years. Now people are realizing that the titles given to them actually have defects.” he said
One of the affected residents, Ruth Namuddu, 69, shared her harrowing experience. Namuddu, a widow, had lived in Nansana since 1996 says she had built rentals and reared chickens to support herself and her four remaining children after losing three. Her house and rentals were razed down by NEMA, leaving her with only a few surviving chickens and forcing her to live in a makeshift tent.
Namuddu recounted, “I have been paying busuulu annually as a Kibanja holder, and my land was clearly demarcated. When NEMA officials first came, they told me only part of my land was in a wetland. I was surprised when they came and razed down everything.” She expressed uncertainty about her next move and received some support to alleviate her suffering.
Margret Namakula Ssempebwa, 80, also a resident of Nansana, claims she has lived in the wetland area since 1960. She says her health is not stable as she has recently undertaken a life threatening surgery.
” i dont know what to do, or where to go, I cant hold a hoe, I depend on my children and grand children to earn a living” she stated
Despite the residents’ claims, the Buganda Land Board responded on their official X platform, stating that the Kabaka of Buganda owns the Lubigi land.
They clarified that those who owned bibanja in Lubigi before the NEMA Act came into force retained their rights but needed NEMA’s consent to develop the land.
“You can actually own a Kibanja in a wetland, register it, and pay busuulu for it. However, to use it or develop it, you need consent or clearance from NEMA. All people in Lubigi who developed their bibanja with approval from NEMA never had their developments demolished.”
NEMA’s ongoing operation against wetland encroachment recently razed over 300 households in Nansana, Ganda, and Lubigi, with the most affected residents being in these areas.
The evictions have sparked significant controversy and calls for a more transparent and fair process.
Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition, has called for a meeting between NEMA, local leaders, and representatives of the evicted residents to address these issues. Ssenyonyi criticized the lack of prior consultations with the affected communities and urged for a more transparent approach.
“These people are Ugandans; they aren’t in the bush hiding. Before anything else happens, let this meeting be held. Have they ever held meetings with you? That is what I am against. I don’t want these people to operate on remote control,” Ssenyonyi said.
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