Police in the Kiira region on thursday confirmed the arrest of six individuals, accused of attempting to illegally evict residents of plot 21 along Iganga road in Jinja city. The Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi, confirms the incident, noting that the six suspects are detained at Jinja CPS, awaiting further prosecution, but he declined to divulge details.
Meanwhile, the Jinja Resident City Commissioner, Salim Kumaketch, says that the eviction process was unlawful, and the security committee stepped in to deter an illegality from taking shape.
Kumaketch noted that, “Even though the process was to be lawful, the tenants would have been provided with an eviction notice and provided time to depart decently rather than embarrassing them with public destruction of their property.”
He adds that the Kiira regional territorial police command has since dispatched police personnel to guard plot 21 for an unspecified period of time. It is alleged that a group of over 30 individuals surrounded plot 21 during the wee hours of Wednesday morning and started hitting the windows while calling out occupants to leave immediately.
The group’s ringleader, who covered his face with a mask, had a photocopy of Jinja city’s demolition certificate. The paper alleged that the City Council had a resolution to demolish the building over its dilapidated state. He is further accused of directing his groupmates to assault the residents, who were hesitant to open the doors.
The residents allege that the group destroyed household items like ceramics and electrical appliances, among others, which were thrown in the middle of the road.
Zainab Nangobi says that she was preparing breakfast for her children at around 5:00am, when a group of individuals armed with hammers and machetes started breaking glass windows. She said that she cried out for help, assuming that she had been attacked by thieves.
Aziz Musa, the chairperson of tenants, said the matter of ownership of the contested property is before the court. Aziz says that the property is in dispute between the departed Asian Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) and another developer.
He says that they have faced similar attackers before. He revealed that the claimants usually come with forged documents purporting that they were issued by courts. “Our tormentors are now conniving with Jinja city council authorities to evict us without a court order, ” said Aziz-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
