A five year long land row over a boundary between residents and a tycoon in Buhimba town council in Kikuube district is being resolved amicably.

The Kikuube Resident District Commissioner presided over a joint boundary opening survey that started this week.

He said, the land row between residents from five villages in Kigaaya west, Buhimba town council and a tycoon had frustrated development efforts in the area.

The joint boundary opening survey between residents of Nyantende, Kyarubanga, Kyawakame, and Karama in Kigaaya west Buhimba town council in Kikuube district has commenced to identify how many households were affected by a land title owned by a tycoon Dr. Fredrick Mbabazi Rukehya.

The land title in question measures 55.32 hectares block road 18 plot 246 at Buhungurukuko which Dr. Mbabazi acquired in 2018.

Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube resident district commissioner has noted that during several meetings between area leaders and Dr. Mbabazi, they resolved that all parties will get land surveyors to conduct a joint boundary opening survey to finally resolve the matter after more than five years feuding.

Amlan adds that the feud has been a security threat as well as an economic sabotage. He asked all parties to cooperate and remain calm during the whole process adding that those who will be found affected by Mbabazi’s land title will be removed from the title.

One of the surveyors told residents to be peaceful until they finish boundary opening. SURVEYOR (when you find inside coordinates do not react, remain peaceful because boundary opening helps you to know, even if you go to court, they will ask you how big it is, after the final process, we will determine how much you was affected, you know boundary opening is always funny so residents I ask you to remain calm)

He promised residents that after the boundary opening survey, they will start picking out those who will be affected to determine the measurements of the affected area.

SURVEYOR (Currently it is hard to pick all people or areas are affected, let us first finish boundary opening and it will be done after)

Dr. Fredrick Mbabazi Rukehya, the land title owner says that he applied for a land title of his land which he bought in the 70s measuring about 136 acres therefore he doesn’t know how four villages were affected.

DR. FREDRICK MBABAZI RUKEHYA- Land Title Owner (Some residents used to rent were to dig but later they defied and started claiming ownership yet others I used to give them rent agreement to dig and leave after some seasons)

FREDRICK MBABAZI RUKEHYA- Land Title Owner ( what I know I don’t cross to other villages, If it crossed in other villages, I don’t know, those village chairpersons know but as you know people change under influence)

Moses Abigaba, the Nyantende village chairperson explains that they had lived on this land peacefully until 2018 when Mbabazi came to evict all residents.

MOSES ABIGABA- Nyantende village chairperson (around 90s, there was no conflict in this area, by the way Mbabazi had given me the responsibility to manager his known land, I would collect rent fee from people who used to dig in his land, the church had its land and Alurs but around 2018 there was a conflict to evict Alur and I asked Mbabazi why are you titling the land bigger than what you own)

The joint boundary opening survey is likely to take more than five days.