Mukono district, Kyaggwe county feud over property

Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A bitter row has erupted between Mukono district council and Kyaggwe county over management of properties.

The properties include the youth centre, community resource centre building, and the ground space opposite the Chief Magistrates court. The properties were handed over to Kyaggwe county by the former LCV chairperson Andrew Ssenyonga Luzindana, following approval by the district council.

However, the incumbent LCV chairperson Rev. Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, and the district council say there was no single document indicating that the properties were given to the county.

Bakaluba says they intend to maintain the resource centre as well as set up a private parking yard, and hire out sections of the space for functions to generate revenue.

URN has established that the district took a stand to use these properties after renewing its lease with Buganda Land Board-BLB. District speaker Betty Nakasi says the land leased from BLB comprises the contested properties.

However, the Kyaggwe County Chief Elijah Bogere says the district wants to grab the property under the guise of collecting revenue. He says the district has several times ignored talks on the matter.

The district and county have erected signposts on the land indicating ownership.

Meanwhile, youths in Mukono are concerned about the fate of the youth centre. Joram Mutaawe, a youth at Mukono Central division appeals to the two institutions to settle the dispute amicably.

He says that the row could affect the operations of the centre which has been offering affordable internet services.

When kingdoms were abolished by the government in the 1960’s, by the then President Milton Obote, assets belonging to Buganda, Tooro, Bunyoro and Ankole were forcefully taken over by the central government. The assets included land, county and sub-county headquarters.

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URN