Members of the extended Mpologoma family erect a reed fence. The leader of his extended family, Wilson Namuguzi Ssebuganda Ssebuganda (inset), will be buried in Lwadda village, the extended family’s ancestral homeland.
A new confrontation is brewing between the heads of the extended Mpologoma (Lion) family of the Kingdom of Buganda and Major General Elly Kayanja, with the former crediting the retired army officer with preventing them from accessing their ancestral lands.
It is on this disputed land of one square mile in Block 91, Kyadondo on Lwadda Hill in Matugga, Nansana Township, Wakiso District, that the heads of the extended Mpologama family are buried. The most recent disagreement, according to extended family leaders, has jeopardized arrangements for the burial of extended family leader Wilson Namuguzi. Ssebuganda who died on August 14, forcing them to stay in a funeral home.
READ: Police fail to mediate land dispute between Mpologoma extended family and General Kayanja
“When we gathered at the domain last weekend to prepare for the final departure of our leader, such as a parking space, the police, on the orders of General Kayanja, arrested us claiming that we were trespassing on personal property. Between us and General Kayanja, who is an intruder? asked John Patrick Kisekka, premier of Mpologoma’s extended family, in an interview on Thursday morning. The disputed land in Lwadda-Matugga village in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, is where the heads of the extended Mpologoma family are buried.
He said police had prevented extended family members from clearing a domain that would be used as a burial parking lot since last week and had also renovated thatched-roof homes at the site. Although General Kayanja claims to own 25 acres in one square mile that belong to the extended family, Mr. Kisekka claims that the lease granted through the Buganda Land Board has not been identified by the extended family’s leaders. Hajj Yunus Ntale, a spokesman for the Mpologoma extended family, said they are the rightful owners of this square kilometer. land in Lwadda and the burial of the leader of his extended family will only be taken once the ongoing dispute is resolved. “We will remain at the A-Plus funeral home until all those issues are resolved. This is our land and everyone knows that General Kayanja’s lease expired two years ago and now he denies us access to our land,” he said. .
Contacted on Wednesday, General Kayanja proved that he owned land in Lwadda, but insisted that the kingdom of Buganda, which had leased the land to him, was in a better position to comment on the dispute. “They have begged me not to talk to the media until these problems are resolved. Please go over to the Buganda Kingdom, you have a spokesman,” he said. Buganda Kingdom spokesman Israel Kaziibwe said the kingdom was aware of the issues surrounding the Mpolopassma clan. Land and kingdom run with both warring sides into a dead end.
“We have asked Minister Anthony Wamala, responsible for culture and tourism, to address these problems. Once those issues are resolved, the leader of the extended family will receive a dignified farewell,” Kazibwe said. Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said police intervened in the clash to prevent possible bloodshed.
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“Our task is to maintain law and order. We cannot stand still and watch the warring parties threaten to fight over land, let them work on their problems, the police will not prevent them from accessing their land,” he said. reporting via MaliK Fahad Jjingo