Uganda Police Force has Thursday afternoon granted ownership of Nakivubo Qualicel bus terminal to tycoons, Drake Lubega and Mansoor Matovu alias Yanga amid resistance by the late Charles Muhangi’s workers.
The late Muhangi alias Ekitaguriro famous for his rally championship and Horizon Coaches that plied the Western Uganda route to and from Kampala, was found dead at home in Buziga on December 6, 2018 shortly after Court had ruled in his favour and granted him possession of the contested plots 50 – 52 at Nakivubo in downtown Kampala.
Now, the Police, commanded by Kampala Metropolitan’s Rashid Angero and Central Police Station’s Ronald Wotwali have Thursday afternoon taken over the bus terminal and handed it to Lubega and Yanga Matovu.
Muhangi’s workers led by Horizon Coaches head of security, Magidu Ssegane were heard decrying impunity as the Police Force which deployed heavily since Wednesday evening overpowered them.
“Where is the court order? How can you evict us by a mere letter from a Police Director?” Seggane pleaded in vain with law enforcement officers.
“How can the Police ignore a ruling by a court of law and come here to evict us? Has Police turned into court?” one of the traders at the terminal complained as she shed tears.
Another trader at Horizon City Building wondered loud why the Police were abetting the theft of a dead man, Charles Muhangi’s property.
“Look at the Police working with Lubega’s security guards to steal a dead man’s property. How much did Lubega and Yanga pay you to steal Muhangi’s property?” the angry trader wondered aloud.
The eviction follows a directive by the Police Director for Legal Services, Erasmus Twaruhuka to the Commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police, to evict Muhangi’s family from the said plots.
Read More: KMP Commander Ordered to Evict Muhangi’s Family from Nakivubo Plots Following Kadaga Letter
Twarahuka’s letter dated February 19, 2019 and copied to the Attorney General directs the Kampala Metropolitan Commander to ensure that Drake Lubega acquires possession of the contested plot. Interestingly, the letter also advises “any aggrieved party to seek court redress.”
The letter refers to a meeting in the Attorney General’s Chambers attended by the Deputy Attorney General, Rukutana Mwesigwa and Police Legal Services Director Erasmus Twarahuka that took the decision to evict Muhangi’s family and staff following a January letter by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, dated 23 January 2019.
The letter referenced, ‘Clarification on the status quo of former Buganda Bus Park Plot 50 to 52 Nakivubo Road’ also claims to have based the order to evict Muhangi’s family and workers on legal opinions by former holders of the Attorney Generals office and their deputies made between 2014 and 2017.
One wonders whether the Speaker of Parliament, the former Attorneys and the Police Director of Police Legal Services constitute a court of law of Uganda that can set aside a ruling by a competent court of law.
Several policemen have in the past been accused of subverting justice and siding with land grabbers to evict bonafide owners. Several policemen were reported to the land probe headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire for aiding and abetting grabbing of land.