Five Arrested Over Illegal Eviction of a Priest

Mpigi– The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Mpigi Police, has arrested five individuals in connection with the unlawful eviction of a Catholic priest from disputed land in Ntinzi Village, located in the Nkozi Sub-county of Mpigi District.

The suspects have been identified as Sande Godfrey, Kyebale Daniel (the manager), Lukyamuzi Eric, Magawuli Geoffrey, and Odida Paul, who claims to be the rightful owner of the titled land. Odida Paul alleges ownership of a total of 100 acres; however, he unlawfully instructed the four suspects to forcibly occupy a contested 5-acre portion of the land, which is currently in dispute with the Catholic priest Fr Bwanika Edward, a kibanja (land tenure) holder.

Reports indicate that on the disputed land, the suspects maliciously destroyed Father Bwanika’s crops, which included valuable coffee and banana plantations, causing significant damage to his livelihood. The priest has been a longstanding tenant of the land, and this act has raised serious concerns regarding property rights and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

Upon receiving a complaint about the situation, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit swiftly coordinated with the territorial police to conduct an operation at the site.

The authorities arrested the five suspects while they were still occupying the land in question. Ongoing investigations are focusing on the details of the incident, with the suspects facing potential charges including forcible entry and malicious damage to property.