General Katumba Wamala, the commander of the UPDF Land forces has failed to resolve the land dispute between the army and Bukalasa Agriculture College in Luweero. Katumba rushed to Luweero on Friday to resolve the feud between UPDF and Bukalasa Agriculture College over an 80 acre piece of land. He convened a public meeting at Bukalasa Agriculture College involving residents, area leaders and administrators of the college.
Katumba explained that the army had legally acquired the land in question through Luweero district land board and Uganda Land Commission for the constructing a National Army Referral hospital, adding that the project has stalled due to lack of funds. He asked Bukalasa Agriculture College to back off the contested land to end the feud with the army.This didn’t go down well with residents, the college administrators and local leaders.
Christine Anyait, the Principal Bukalasa Agriculture College told Katumba the army had unlawfully acquired the land since the college that has been using it since 1930 was not consulted before the land was leased to the army. She also told Katumba they cannot surrender the land to UPDF because they need it for conducting practical lessons and growing food.
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Sebastian Ssebagala, the LC 3 chairperson Wobulenzi town council asked the army to back off the land since it has failed to use it for the purpose for which they it applied for it and instead resorted to growing maize. Following the standoff, the meeting resolved to refer the dispute to the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi to convene an inter ministerial meeting to involving the ministry of Agriculture and Defense to resolve the standoff.
Katumba later told URN that the wrangles were beyond both institutions saying the conflict should be resolved by the concerned ministries in the presence of the Uganda Land Commission.
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No official from Luweero District Land Board and Uganda Land Commission showed up for the meeting despite the fact that invitations were sent to both offices.
