RUBANDA: Authorities in Rubanda District have intervened to halt activities on the disputed Nyakatugunda Playground in Rubanda Town Council where Christians of Kabirizi Catholic Parish in Kabale Diocese are accusing three individuals of encroaching on the playground.
The Rubanda Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Eric Ssewandigi, issued the directive following a crisis mass held at the playground yesterday. The mass was presided over by the Kabirizi Catholic Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Prosper Turyahabwe, and assisted by Rev. Fr. Zaverio Tindimwebwa, with tight security provided by the Uganda Police.
The priests accused the Rubanda Town Council LC3 Chairperson, Norman Tushabe, Fred Kaharata Rwegyemera, and Gerevazio Begumisa of encroaching on the 30-acre piece of land. This land is situated across four villages in Nyakabungo and Nyaruhanga Wards in Rubanda Town Council. According to the priests, the land was reportedly allocated to the church in 1985. They also warned that if the accused trespassed on the disputed land again, they would mobilize Christians to take action against them.
CUE IN REV FR TURYAHABWE…ON LAND…….RR//
When the Rubanda District Police Commander, Abel Barugahare, urged the priests to let the law take its course, Fr. Turyahabwe threatened to lead all Christians in a protest to the Office of the Rubanda Resident District Commissioner. However, Ssewandigi intervened and halted all activities on the disputed land. He promised to resolve the impasse during a district security meeting scheduled for Friday this week.
CUE IN SSEWANDIGI…..ON DIRECTIVE……RR/ENG//
Efforts to reach Rwegyemera and Begumisa for comment were unsuccessful as they did not answer reporters’ phone calls. Tushabe maintained that their acquisition of the land was legitimate.
CUE IN TUSHABE….ON LAND…….RR//
