About 150 army veterans have invaded land in Lukaya Town Council on Masaka Road and taken it for themselves.
The three acres of land are part of property that the Uganda People's Defense gave to the town council for its expansion program.
Last Saturday the army veterans, led by the chairperson of their association Ismail Ssenkungu, iinvaded the property. Ssenkungu says the land is rightfully theirs. He says that since it was purchased a year ago, it has been lying dormant and impoverished veterans will put it to good use.
A number of veterans arrived in Lukaya with their families and have erected stalls to turn the area into a market. Ssenkungu says they have no intention to leave.
On Monday Lukaya Town Council resolved to evict the veterans from the land, which is intended for the construction of a health center. The deadline for eviction was yesterday. However instead of leaving, more former soldiers have moved on to the property.
Richard Busulwa, one of the veterans, says he deserves to live on government land because he served the government for a long time. He says if he is forcefully evicted, he will not hesitate to cause physical harm to the Lukaya LC3 chairperson, Kiddu Ssali.
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Andrew Wabwiire says he and the other veterans did not move into Lukaya with the intention of disturbing the peace. He however says if he is evicted, he will respond in kind.
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Kiddu Ssali, the Lukaya LC3 chairperson, says the actions of the veterans are illegal. He says he also doubts that many in the group are former soldiers because they do not have documentation to confirm their identities.
A security committee has convened at Lukaya town council to resolve the standoff.
