The Kyangwali Sub county LC3 Chairman Rwemera Mazirane has threatened to sue the security minister Wilson Muruuli Mukasa, for alleged intimidation.
The threat to sue comes amid a land row between the security and more than 100 residents in Kyangwali.
The minister is accused of trying to evict the residents from his 3,000 acre piece of land in Mandwiga, Rutuza, Karongo and Kasozi all in Butoole parish.
Mazirane said ever the minister has always accused him of having pushed the settlers to his land.
Mazirane quotes the October 4/2011 telephone message that the minister allegedly sent warning him to back off his land. The LC3 chairman accuses the minister of writing several letters implicating him in allocating land to foreigners and creating illegal villages.
The local leader denies any of the allegations, and has vowed to sue the security minister.
The LC3 chairman, who showed a print out of the phone text message allegedly sent to him by the minister, says he is not taking the matter lightly.
The minister has his Nguse Ranchers Company on the contested land, located about three kilometers away from Wairagaza trading center, a home area to the LC3 Chairman.
The Minister co-owns the ranch with other eight share holders. Last month 145 families on the contested land led by Mazirane petitioned the speaker of parliament protesting aganst an impending eviction.
Parliament is yet to discuss the petition. Uganda Radio Network could not readily reach the security minister for a comment but John Bahemuka, the chairperson Nguse ranchers and one of the directors said he does not rule out politics in this matter.
Bahemuka wondered why only Muruuli Mukasa’s name being fronted as trying to evict people.
Bahemuka defended the minister on claims he was evicting people. Bahemuka said the company is only aware of the four people that they sold part of the ranch land in 2008 and that they have no problems with them.
Bahemuka who doubles as the Bugambe sub county LC3 chairman, backed the minister’s claim that Mazirane has a hand in the ever growing number of settlers claiming to have bought part of the ranch land yet they are not at all known to the directors.
Bahemuka says he has evidence to back up his claim.
The Minister and the other directors of Nguse Ranchers are facing court charges over crop destruction and arson. 145 residents in the contested area filed a complaint last year claiming the ranch animals destroyed their crop gardens and that several of their houses were burnt by the ranch workers.
The case is before Masindi High court.
