Uganda’s Deputy Minister of Lands Ida Nantaba sued by a Dutch Coffee firm for halting the eviction of 43 poor families

 State Minister for Lands Nantaba  

FIRST READ:

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How The World Bank Destroys the Local Economy: REPORT UNCOVERS WORLD BANK FUNDED LAND GRAB IN UGANDA

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The depravity of Rich Elites in Uganda: Gold in Mubende: 270 families evicted

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-depravity-of-rich-elites-in-uganda.html

Minister Nantaba halts eviction of 43 families

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/637609-minister-nantaba-halts-eviction-of-43-families.html

Publish Date: Nov 26, 2012

By Henry Nsubuga

Lands State Minister Idah Nantaba has blocked eviction of over 40 families in Buleega village, Najja sub-county in Buikwe District.

The families had been evicted by a Dutch citizen, Triwe Riis Jewsew, who is also a proprietor of Riis Coffee Company Limited.

Riis had fenced off the over 100 acres of land which the families are occupying. She had claimed that she bought the land from Edward Galabuzi and that she possessed the land title before ordering the residents to vacate.

The eviction forced Buikwe South Member of Parliament, Dr. Michael Lulume Bayiga to petition Nantaba to intervene. On Friday, Nantaba stormed Buikwe to resolve the land wrangle.

During the visit, she toured the land in question together with the victims and the Dutch’s farm manager, Joseph Male.

Earlier on Tuesday, residents clashed with the Dutch’s private security operatives trying to remove the fence. Chaos ensued as security operatives fired live bullets, injuring some of the residents.

The victims reported to Nantaba that the Dutch also used Police to harass them and that whoever was seen on the fenced land was thoroughly beaten.

 John Bosco Ssekamatte, one of the residents who was shot on the leg, is now nursing wounds

We had fled from our houses just to save our lives and family members. Our land was fenced off minus any compensation. The Dutch first influenced the local leaders who just kept a deaf ear as we were being harassed,” said Bosco Nameda, one of the victims.

After the tour, Nantaba held an open meeting of the residents and Riis in which she asked her to present the title showing that she possessed the land.

But Riis failed to present the title forcing Nantaba to direct the residents to uproot the fence. She also ordered residents to reoccupy their land with immediate effect.



Nantaba ordered Buikwe District Police Commander, Caroline Akoth to arrest the security operatives whom the residents accused of shooting at them.

“We want and we are ready to protect investors but only those who follow and respect the law,” Nantaba said.

“I am disappointed with the Police’s act of arresting the residents who were evicted and shot by security operatives. How come the Police just arrested the residents and the security operatives were let free?” she wondered.

 Idah Nantaba inspecting the disputed land

Nantaba sued for Shs120m over land

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Nantaba-sued-for-Shs120m-over-land/-/688334/1637398/-/6wj56nz/-/index.html

By JOHN NJOROGE

Posted  Thursday, December 6  2012 at  02:00

Kampala
RIIS Coffee Limited has now sued State Minister for Lands Ida Nantaba, accusing her of trespass, looting, vandalism and destruction of private property.

The company which has been involved in a running battle with squatters said to be backed by Ms Nantaba over a large tract of land in Buikwe District wants court to order the recently-appointed junior minister to pay more than Shs100 million in compensation.

Court documents obtained by this newspaper indicate that Ms Nantaba is accused of allegedly handing out portions of the coffee farm and leading a riotous mob of squatters to invade the property. Ms Nantaba is also said to have overseen the destruction and theft of the farm’s property between November 19 and 20.

When contacted for comment, Ms Nantaba, who expressed dissatisfaction at this newspaper, said she was only doing her job, defending the voiceless. “How would you feel if a 90-year-old is deprived of her land? You are not being fair. We, who are defending the voiceless, are being treated like thieves,” Ms Nantaba said yesterday. “We, the young people, have come to restore sanity to the NRM government. Do not destroy our morale,” she added.

Four Danish investors Trine Riis Jensen, Svend Kaare Jensen, Kristen Hoiler and Per Michael Hoiler, who jointly own RIIS Coffee, however, accuse the junior minister of various misdeeds and want court to compel her to pay more than Shs123 million in damages and costs of the suit.

MB Gimara Advocates, the firm’s counsel, has also filed for a restraining order prohibiting Ms Nantaba, her agents, employees or any person under her control from entering RIIS Coffee Limited property located at Buleega in Buikwe District.

Remaining time

Ms Nantaba now has 15 days, from December 3, to file her defence to the Jinja High Court, having been sued in her own capacity. It is not yet clear whether the suit will affect the Lands Ministry. Claiming villagers had been cheated by the Danish investors, the minister reportedly dished out farmland to between 10 and 12 tenant households who have been at loggerheads with the company management.

The company attests it has signed contracts with the squatters who were compensated to vacate the property but have since returned under the influence of a local politician. Documents obtained by this newspaper indicate the squatters were paid between Shs700,000 and Shs7 million, depending on the expanse of land they were using. The minister had earlier halted their eviction only to later dish out the property.

Minisita Nantaba ku ddyo ng'akunya maneja wa Riis Coffee Joseph Male agambibwa okulagira ne bakuba mu bantu amasasi. Ekif: Henry Nsubuga

 

Nantaba alemesezza yinvesita okutwala ettaka ly'ab'e Buikwe

http://www.bukedde.co.ug/news/68406-nantaba-alemesezza-yinvesita-okutwala-ettaka-lyabe-buikwe.html

Nov 26, 2012

Buikwe

Bya Henry Nsubuga, November 26, 2012. 
Abatuuze ku kyalo Buleega mu ggombolola y’e Najja mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe baasambidde waggulu nga jjanzi oluvannyuma lwa minisita omubeezi ow’eby’ettaka, Idah Nantaba okulagira badde mu bibanja byabwe gye babadde baagobwa omuzungu Triwe Riis Jewsew nnannyini kkampuni ya Riis Coffee Company Limited nga yeekobaanye ne nnannyiyini ttaka okugobaganya ab'ebibanja.

Nantaba era yalagidde abatuuze okukuula ebikondo n’okusala ssengenge Omuzungu gwe yalagira asibibwe ku bibanja byabwe ku yiika ezikunuukkiriza mu 100 okuli ebibanja by’abatuuze abasoba mu 40.

Ku Lwokuna lwa wiiki ewedde, Nantaba yawalirizibwa okugenda e Buikwe oluvannyuma lw’omubaka wa Buikwe South mu Palamenti Dr. Micheal Lulume Bayiga okumuwadiikira ng’amusaba ayingire mu nsonga y’okugobaganya abatuuze okuva ku bibanja byabwe eyali etandise n’okuvaamu okuyiwa omusaayi.

Lulume yategeeza nti abatuuze baali basula ku ttale n’abamu ng’aky’okulya bawamma kiwamme olw’okukuba ebibanja byabwe okuli ennimiro kwe baali balimira emmere byali bisibiddwako ssengenge ne bagaanibwa okugendayo nga ne lwe baali bawalazizza empaka ne basala ssengenge baabakubamu amasasi abamu ku bbo ne bagendera ku bisago.

Nantaba yalambula ettaka erivaako emberebezi, oluvannyuma n’akuba olukiiko olwetabibwamu abatuuze, abakulembeze ku mitendera egy’enjawulo n’Omuzungu kanaaluzaala.

Yasinziira mu lukiiko luno n’asaba Omuzungu Riis okulaga ekyapa ku ttaka lye yali ayita erirye ng’agamba nti yaligula ku Edward Galabuzi, bwe yalemwa okuleeta ekyapa n’amutegeeza nga bwe yali agoba abantu mu bukyamu era n’alagira abantu badde ku ttaka lyabwe.

Yaddayo enkeera ku Lwokutaano n’abaawo ng’abantu bakuula ebikodo ku bibanja byabwe n’okusala ssengenge olwo abantu ne bazina amazina nga bamwebaza okubataasa ku Muzungu ono abadde yeefudde nnantagambwako ng’asibiddeyo emmere yaabwe n’amayumba gaabwe.

“Omuzungu yagulirira Poliisi, RDC n’abakulembeze abalala okuviira ddala ku kyalo nga buli gye tubadde twekubira enduulu tubadde tetusobola kufuna buyambi. Tubadde tusula bweru nga n’emmere tutandise kusaka mu byalo abaali baalima emmere yaffe ne batugoba n’evundira mu muddo”, bwatyo Bosco Nameda omu ku batuuze ababadde baagobwa bwe yategeezezza.

Yagasseeko nti abasirikale abakuuma faamu y’Omuzungu abaabakubamu amasasi n’abamu ku bannaabwe ne balumizibwa bbo balya butaala ate ng’abatuuze abaali balwanirira ebibanja byabwe poliisi be yakwata.

Minisita Nantaba yalagidde DPC w’e Buikwe okukwata mangu abasirikale abaakuba mu bantu amasasi bavunaanibwe.

Yategeezezza nti wadde Uganda eyagala era essaamu ekitiibwa mu ba yinvesita, ssi nneetegefu kukkiriza abo abamenya amateeka omuli n’okubba ettaka ly’abantu okulya obutaala.

 

   Aidah Nantaba minisita omubeezi ow''ebyettaka

Nantaba ayimirizza Omuzungu agobaganya ab'ebibanja

http://www.bukedde.co.ug/news/68352-nantaba-ayimirizza-omuzungu-agobaganya-ab-ebibanja.html
Nov 23, 2012

Bya Henry Nsubuga, November 23, 2012. 

Olutalo ku ttaka e Buleega olwabadde wakati w’ab’ebibanja n’abasirikale b’Omuzungu abantu ne babakubamu n’amasasi lusitudde minisita omubeezi ow’eby’ettaka Aidah Nataba.

Omuzungu Triwe Riis Jewsew nnannyini kkampuni y’emmwanyi eya Riis Coffee kigambibwa nti yeekobaana ne nnannyini ttaka n’asiba ssengenge ku bibanja by’abantu abasoba mu 40 n’abagaana okuddamu okusula mu mayumba gaabwe, okusima mu bibanja bino emmere wadde okulinnyayo.

Ku Lwokubiri abatuuze abaasangibwa mu ggombolola y’e Najja mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe nga bakulemberwa ssentebe wa disitulikiti owa NRM Harriet Nankabirwa baavudde mu mbeera ne batandika okutemaatema ssengenge ekintu ekyajja abasirikale mu mbeera olwo ne batandika okubakubamu amasasi okukkakana ng’abamu gabakutte ne baddusibwa mu ddwaliro nga biwalattaka.

Nantaba abatuuze baamwanirizza mu ssanyu abasajja ne bafukamira ne bamwebaza okubawonya okuliira ku nsiko olw’ensonga nti Omuzungu abadde yabagoba mu mayumba nga n'amayumba gaabwe tabaganya kugasulamu.

“Bannaffe abangi baatukubye emiggo okubula okututta obussi. Baalabye eby’emiggo tubigumidde kwe kutandika okukozesa amasasi. Babadde baasiba ennimiro zaffe ng’okugenda mu nnimiro okusimayo emmere omala kusaba lukusa okuva ew’Omuzungu n’akukkiriza olwo n’akuwa omusirikale n’akukuuma okumala eddakiika eziba zikuweereddwa. Eyo ye mbeera ey’obulumi gye tubadde tuyitamu ebbanga eriweredde ddala kumpi lya mwaka mulamba!”, bwatyo Friday Ssenyange omu ku b'ebibanja bwe yategeezezza nga n’abiyengeyenge bimuyitamu.

Minisita baamulambuzza ebibanja byabwe byonna ebyassibwako ssengenge, emmere yaabwe eyasendebwa ssaako okuloopa abakungu ab’enjawulo mu disitulikiti y’e Buikwe okuva ku poliisi, RDC Abas Sseguya n’abakola mu bitongole ebikessi okwekobaana n’Omuzungu eyabagulirira ne babatulugunya.

Baategeezezza nti Poliisi mu kifo ky’okukwata ate abasirikale b’ekitongole ky’obwannanyini abaabakubamu amasasi nga bagendera ku biragiro bya maneja wa Riis Coffee Joseph Male, eyalagira babakube amasasi ate ne bakwatamu batuuze ne babaggalira ku poliisi e Buikwe songa abasirikale balya butaala.

 Minisita ng'alambuzibwa ebibanja by'abantu ebyasibiddwaako ssengenge gattako okugaana bannyini byo okuddamu okulimirako. Ekif: Henry Nsubuga

Minisita Nantaba mu kwanukula yalagidde Omuzungu okukomya eky’okugoba abantu ku bibanja byabwe n’agamba nti yabadde akizudde nti Riis Coffee terina na kyapa kw’esinziira kugobaganya bantu.

Yabalagidde badde mangu ku bibanja, n’alagira ne poliisi okuyimbula abatuuze be yakwata n'okukwata abaabakuba amasasi mu bantu ne balumya abamu.

Nantaba yavumiridde nnyo eky’okukozesa emmundu okutulugunya abantu nga n’abakulembeze ne poliisi batunula butunuzi n’asuubiza okutuusa ensonga zino ewa pulezidenti abeeko ky’akolawo.

ABATUUZE BYE BOOGERA:

Aidah Nantaba minisita omubeezi ow'ebyettaka:
Etteeka ly'ettaka likugira bannanyini ttaka okutamala gagobaganya baabibanja era kino ekikolebwa wano okusiba ku bibanja by'abantu ssengenge n'amayumba gaabwe ne bagatwaliramu kikyamu kye sigenda kukkiriza kugenda mu maaso.

Gavumenti ya NRM emmundu ezikozesa kukuuma bantu sso si kubatulugunya era abo ababadde beenyigira mu kikolwa kino bagenda kukolebwako ng'amateeka bwe galagira.

Ruth Malinga ow'ekibanja:

Ekibanja kyange okwali n'emmere bakisenda ne basibako ssengenge nga tebalina kye bampadde. Bwe twagezaako okwekubira enduulu ne batutiisatiisa nga bwe bajja okutusiba ne n'okutulabula twagala emirembe tuve ku bibanja tugende.

Bosco Nameda wa kibanja:

Baasiba ku kibanja kyange ssengenge okuli ennyumba yange n'ennimiro omuli ebikajjo bye nnalima nga nkozesa ssente ze nneewola kati singa babisaawa eky'okukola sikimanyi kuba bbanka etuuse okunkwata ensibe anti sirina walala wennyinza kujja ssente.