24But
woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25Woe unto you that
are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. (Luke
6:24-25)
(7) For we brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction
and perdition. (10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:7-10)
Area MP Bbosa Kiyingi addressing affected residents in Nabyewanga in Mpigi district. Phoo by Andrew Mugonza newvision
Pastor Kakande in land eviction row
Publish Date: Apr 15, 2013
By Henry Sekanjako and
Andrew Mugonza
Prophet Samuel Kakande of Synagogue church of all nations Uganda is embroiled in a land eviction row that is likely to leave about 150 people in Mpigi district homeless.
Kakande is said to have acquired and ordered the eviction of squatters on the over 250 acres of land he bought from Mrs. Nataya Kabuusu, the widow to the late Kabuusu of Nabyewanga village in Mpigi district.
The land in question covers three villages of Nabyewanga, Ntinzi and Mugge in Nkozi sub county Mpigi district.
Residents of Nabyewanga intimated to New Vision that upon securing the land, Prophet Kakande through his intermediaries ordered for their eviction which commenced last week with clearance of their food crops using tractors.
"All our crops have been cleared by the tractor, we appeal to the government to come to our rescue by sending us food, I have many grandchildren but I am now afraid I don't know what I am going to use to feed them," said Tom Baligidde one of the affected residents New Vision spoke to when it visited the site upon hearing of the complaints.
Another resident Teodoziya Tulina Omujjuni complained; "When my husband died, he left me with 10 acres of land but as I speak now they have all been cleared by the graders without any compensation".
The residents explained that they were not compensated nor consulted upon the acquisition of the land which they claim to have owned for generations.
"I have two acres of land which we want to get back and all our colleagues that have been arrested as a result of these evictions should be freed without any charges preferred against them," said Joseph Kaleebu a resident of Nabyewanga.
Ssaalongo Tulina Omugisha George, one of the residents of Ntinzi village added; "we want government to apprehend the conniving police men who beat us. They found us on our land and started beating us to effect the evictions. We are poor and don't have money to seek redress or medical attention on".
However Prophet Kakande scoffed at those claiming ownership of the land saying he is the rightful landlord of the said land.
"I am the landlord of this land and I have authority over it. Why are Ugandans fighting development? I have brought development to you and you fight it?" he wondered in remarks over the issue in Sunday service at his synagogue church of all nations in Mulago.
Kakande noted that, he had legally acquired the land on which he plans to set up a commercial fish pond.
According to sources in the church, the land was acquired under the church's project get out of poverty (GOP) scheme which is aimed at "fighting poverty among church members and other Ugandans".
Kakande however appealed to his followers to stay calm saying he would soon explain to government the unfolding events.
Kiyingi Bbosa the MP Mawokota South in Mpigi district, urged Prophet Kakande, to spare time and meet the affected squatters so as to explain to them how the intended development on the land is going to benefit them as a community and what plans he has for the occupants.
"These people are living in a state of fear and worry. We all need developments in our areas but this development should be embraced by the locals. It shouldn't be forced on them," Kiyingi told New Vision yesterday.
Meanwhile last week Police intervened and stopped further evictions of the squatters saying Kakande had no authority to evict people off plots land they have occupied for over ten years, as the law says.
"I have not halted these evictions as police, but basing on the recent presidential directive which bars any one from evicting land squatters more so farmers. The president stopped these evictions, "said William Kototyo boss of the police land protection Unit.
Kototyo, who told the residents to continue fending their gardens without fear said he would ask state minister for land Aidah Nantaba to further intervene in the matter.
He was last week meeting the affected squatters who were protesting the clearance of their food crops such as banana plantations, sweat potatoes, cassava without compensation.
