Stealing The Land Of The Poor Ugandans For The Sake Of Neo-Liberalism: Oxfam And Uganda Land Alliance Face Deregistration Over Exposing Museveni’s Land Grab Schemes
Tycoon Abid Alam has been arrested over Mubende raid at the weekend (PHOTO/NTV Uganda).KAMPALA — The State House Anti-corruption unit headed by President Museveni’s military assistant Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema has swung the handcuffs on businessman Abid Alam, a protagonist in the Mubende land wrangle where scores were injured during a weekend scuffle.
The businessman was on Thursday paraded on charges of destroying property and injuring people during the ill fated eviction at the weekend.
Addressing the media on Thursday, April 04, Lt. Col. Nakalema said Mr. Abid is being invested over the alleged atrocities including attempted murder and unlawful destruction of property in Bukoba, Kassanda District.
Lt. Nakalema said she has since received from Wamala region police commander over 27 cases pinning the businessman of many atrocities. “What attracted my attention is what happened on Saturday night at a village called Bukompe in Kassanda District,” she said.
“Evil acts including gang rapping and attempted murder and I happened to hear from the a lady who was raped; it hurt me and it is not acceptable in this country”.
“When I received pictures like this, I called Mr. Abid Alam to ask him to record a statement,” Lt. Col.Nakalema said on the illegal destruction of homes and the cutting of plantations.
SP Latif Zaake,Bob Kagarura the Wamala Regional Police Commander told PML Daily this week that three people, all employees working for Mr. Arthur Mugyenyi, an employee of the Predident’s Office were injured in the said eviction.
Mr. Mugyenyi says that his three acres of banana plantations were destroyed; two houses of his employees destroyed and in addition to killing some goats, the suspects also took 20 cows and 50 goats.
Mr.Mugenyi accused tycoon Abid Alam, a Ugandan businessman of Asian extraction for masterminding the attack. At the weekend Mr. Abid Alam’s agents claimed that Mr. Mugyenyi had stage-managed the eviction to malign the businessman.
They denied the charges against the businessman who for long has been embroiled embroiled in a 13-acre land row in areas of Bukoba, Kakungubwe sub-county. The case is before Mubende High Court. But Mr. Mugyenyi in a telephone interview rubbished Mr. Abid’s claims that the attack was stage-managed. The police has since promised to get to the bottom of the matter and prosecute culprits before Lt. Col. Nakalema swung into action.
27 criminal files lined up against businessman Abid Alam, says Col Nakalema
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit on Wednesday handed city businessman Abid Alam over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for questioning into alleged crimes he committed last Saturday at Bukoba and Bukompe villages, Nalutuntu Parish, Nalutuntu Sub County in Kassanda South Constituency. Col Edith Nakalema, the head of the unit said the businessman was handed over to police to record statements regarding allegations that a group of people attached to him gang raped a woman, destroyed banana plantations, robbed property and battered residents of Bukoba and Bukompe villages, among others.
“When I contacted the RPC Wamala sub region to investigate the matter, he said they had 27 files of atrocities against Abid Alam. A woman was gang raped, people were beaten, plantations cut down," she said. A group of people attached to the Indian investor allegedly invaded the farm of one Arthur Mugyenyi, a resident of Bukoba village. The area MP Simeo Nsubuga said during the attack, the assailants injured one Samuel Kyakabale, the cattle keeper of Mr Mugyenyi and gang-raped his wife as he and his children watched helplessly.
They also reportedly destroyed two houses, cut down three acres of banana plantation, before taking away 200 heads of cattle and 50 goats. "Before this incident happened, Abid Alam, his son and his bodyguards spent the whole of Saturday April 4, 2020 at the farm planning how to commit the crimes and he left that place at 6pm," the MP said.
"This is not the first time these serious crimes have been committed against my people. Last year alone, about three people were killed in Bukoba and Bukompe villages by workers of Abid Alam. Some suspects were arrested but later released under nuclear circumstances,” Mr Nsubuga said.
The businessman was on Thursday handed over to police when he reported at the President’s office in Kampala where he had been summoned by Col Nakalema.
She was rebuked when tasked with explaining why there was strong sentiment amongst the tenants that she is an agent of Alam.
PIC: Mubende district acting resident district commissioner Tinkamalirwe Evelyn after appearing before the land probe committee on March 22, 2018. Tinkamalirwe is accused on siding with businessman Abid Alam in the land wrangles in Bukoba village, where security guards mount road blocks and harass residents. (Credit: Denis Dibele)
KAMPALA - Land probe commission chairperson Justice Catherine Bamugemereire has blasted acting Mubende resident district commissioner(RDC) over insecurity in the aftermath of the land evictions.
On Thursday, Christine Tinkamalirwe came under fire during the probe public hearing conducted at the Archives and Records Centre in the city suburb of Nakasero.
At the centre of contention is a 12-square mile piece of land in Nalutuntu sub-county, with allegations that businessman Abid Alam grabbed the land from several Bibanja holders and displaced over 700 families.
She was rebuked when tasked with explaining why there was strong sentiment amongst the tenants that she is an agent of Alam.
Commissioner Mary Ochan pressed: “Why do people think you are on Alam’s side despite all that you claim you have done?”
When the RDC responded that she did not know why people were ungrateful despite championing their plight, she irked Bamugemereire.
“People are shot and you are siding with the rich people of Mubende.The office of RDC has been a total flop on land matters.You are in bed with Alam. As RDC, you are the head of security and if you were worth your name, you should have done the right things,” Bamugemereire stated.
“Over 16 cases were reported by Alam against the tenants, to Mubende Police and have since gone to court for prosecution. But nine case are reported by the villagers against Alam and nothing has been done.Don’t you think the issue of Alam has failed you?” Bamugemereire asked.
The furious Court of Appeal Justice also noted that Tinkamalirwe failed in her job as the President’s representative to investigate why the tenants lost confidence in Mubende Police.
Bamugemereire disclosed that the tenants were compelled to travel to the probe commission head office in Kampala to record statements about the land evictions.
Earlier, assistant lead counsel John Bosco Suuza, wondered why insecurity had flared up despite the probe team directive when public hearings were held in Mubende in September last year.
The probe team had directed Alam and the tenants to stop hostilities and keep off land in the village of Bukoba until inquiries were concluded.
When pressed by Suuza about favouring Alam, Tinkamalirwe insisted that she had was not discriminatory and that she was responsive to the plight of the people.
Suuza also asked her to respond to claims raised by Bukoba village local chairperson Charles Bukenya.
On March 16, Bukenya testified that during a February 22 security meeting, the RDC mocked the tenants and told them to choose between the land and facing the wrath of Alam’s gun-wielding security detail.
Commissioners Frederick Ruhindi and Dr Rose Nakayi advised Tinkamalirwe to go the extra mile and engage the tenants in comprehensive discussions.
The RDC was also told to seek expert security advice to ascertain the gravity of the land row that had resulted into a security problem.
Commission team
The commissioners are Frederick Ruhindi, Mary Oduka Ochan, Robert Ssebunnya, Joyce Gunde Habaasa, Dr Rose Nakayi and George Bagonza.
Ebert Byenkya is lead counsel, while Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya (High Court judge designate) heads the secretariat.
Commission mandate
The commission’s mandate is to probe efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management.
It is also tasked with inquiring into the effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves, and national parks, among other gazetted spaces.
City businessman Abid Alam, who is the proprietor of Lake Wamala Farm and Ntanda have been accused of torturing residents and evicting them from their land measuring 12 square miles.
PIC: Lake Wamala Farm manager Mohammad Ntanda appearing before the land probe committee. Ntanda was testifying on the wrangles in Bukoba village in Mubende district involving residents and security guards acting on behalf of Abid Alam. (Credit: Denis Dibele)
KAMPALA - The manager of Lake Wamala Farm in Mubende district has been detained by the investigators attached to the land probe team.
The commission of inquiry into land chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire directed that Mohammed Ntanda be detained to record an additional statement regarding land grabbling and eviction in Mubende.
City businessman Abid Alam, who is the proprietor of Lake Wamala Farm and Ntanda have been accused of torturing residents and evicting them from their land measuring 12 square miles.
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire directed that Ntanda be detained to record additional statement on premise that he has been concealing information to the commission.
“We think there is something you have not told the commission, please go with my investigators to record another statement,” Bamugemereire said.
Commission team
Justice Catherine Bamugemereire is the commission chairperson. The commissioners are Fredrick Ruhindi, Mary Oduka Ochan Robert Ssebunnya, Joyce Gunze Habaasa, Dr Rose Nakayi, and George Bagonza Tinkamanyire.
Ebert Byenkya is lead counsel, John Bosco Suuza is assistant lead counsel, while Judiciary deputy registrar of planning and development Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya heads the secretariat.
Commission mandate
The commission’s mandate is to probe efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management.
It is also tasked with inquiring into the effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves and national parks, among other gazetted spaces.
UGANDAN business people eager to fly to Indonesia in Southeast Asia, will now find it easier after the appointment of Abid Alam, the Managing Director, Casements (Africa) Limited, as the Honorary Consul in Uganda effective this month.
By Yunusu Abbey
UGANDAN business people eager to fly to Indonesia in Southeast Asia, will now find it easier after the appointment of Abid Alam, the Managing Director, Casements (Africa) Limited, as the Honorary Consul in Uganda effective this month.
Indonesia is a leading source for affordable consumer items including electronics and textiles. “The Indonesian government has given powers to Abid Alam to issue visas to all Ugandans intending to travel to Jakarta (the capital) to transact businesses and other genuine missions,†said Mr. Tupuk Sutrisno, the Indonesian Ambassador to Uganda, resident in Nairobi.
He said this is in a bid to strengthen relations between the two countries and boost trade. Speaking to The New Vision in Kampala on Friday, the envoy said: Since Mr. Abid has been granted powers to issue visas, it will now be easy for Ugandans to travel to Indonesia. We are eager to see Ugandans going to Indonesia.
Abid quipped: Although my father (Mansur Alam) is presently the Honorary Consul of Mexico in Uganda, I never expected to get such a privilege. But Insha Allah (God willing), I am ready to face the challenges and serve diligently. I will co-operate with my fellow Ugandans and the Indonesians.
Sutrisno said: Mr. Abid deserves the appointment because he did a lot in promoting and strengthening our relations.
The Indonesian consul offices will be located at the Casements (Africa) factory on plot 88/90 Fifth Street, Kampala Industrial Area. Over the weekend Abid was introduced to members of the Diplomatic Corps. Ends
