KAMPALA – The Mengo II Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday granted bail to Godfrey Bazaale – the man suspected of razing down a fence, which Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had assisted in erecting for a widow in Namungoona, a Kampala city suburb.
Bazaale and the widow, Gertrude Nalule – a mother of seven, are entangled in a dispute over a piece of land, where the destroyed fence stood. Whereas Bazaale claims that Nalule sold him the land, which also houses the family’s house at Ugx10m but reversed the idea to sale, after collecting Ugx7m, the widow alleges that she only approached her rich neighbour for a financial bailout. Nalule insists that Bazaale lent her only Ugx5m, but was unable to pay the money on time.
Bazaale sued Nalule for breach of contract, winning the case and was awarded over Ugx2.8m in damages.
The widow failed to pay, ending up in Luzira on a six months’ jail term, where Premier Nabbanja rescued her after clearing the Ugx2.88m.
In addition, Nabbanja funded the construction of a fence around Nalule’s house to clearly demarcate her land, but Bazaale is said to have hired goons, who demolished the boundary.
Prosecution alleged that between November 15 and December 1, Bazaale the application of violence, trespassed on Nalule’s land with intent to annoy her, destroying her perimeter wall with the sole purpose of forcefully taking possession of her land.
Bazaale was arrested and produced before Acting Principal Magistrate Grade One Court, Adam Byaruhanga, charged with criminal trespass, malicious damage to property, and forcible entry into a property, remanding him to Luzira Prison.
When he appeared for his bail application on Tuesday, Byaruhanga granted him a cash bail of Ugx10m, ordering him to return to court on January 18, 2023.
Recently, the Police instituted an investigation on an unspecified number of Kampala City tycoons, who are alleged to be involved in land grabbing, leaving hundreds of people evicted.
Land grabbing, according to sources, is a syndicate involving civil servants in the line offices in the metropolitan area of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts.
Sources said the police investigations were initiated on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni in his reaction to a public outcry over illegal evictions.
“The President is not happy with the on-going evictions in the city where tycoons are illegally evicting people.
“Such illegal acts undermine the government and the President wants those tycoons to be investigated thoroughly and dealt with,” said Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Tumusiime Katsigazi, who confirmed the on-going investigations.
Additional reporting by URN
