The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President, Yoweri Museveni has summoned all squatters on the land belonging to the Orthodox Church at Lubya Hill in Namungona in Rubaga Division in Kampala to discuss how to resolve the dispute amicably.
He invited the squatters in his speech at a function to lay the foundation stone of a monument to mark centenary celebrations of the Orthodox Church in Uganda.
He was responding to a complaint by Reverend Father Paul Mutaasa, the Vicar General of the Orthodox Church in Uganda about encroachers on their land.
Father Mutaasa said armed men have occupied six acres of the church land and intimidate them with firearms, saying they are ‘untouchable’ since they are connected to the president.
He said they are willing to sit down with the encroachers and resolved the dispute.
According to Fr. Mutaasa, four Uganda People’s Defense Force Generals, a major and veteran are among the squatters.
“Your Excellence now that you have come and indeed identified yourself with us at the start of this project, we earnestly request you to support us with any means at your disposal in order to overcome the said challenges,” Mutaasa said.
Fr. Mutaasa made the same appeal to the Katikiro of Buganda Kingdom, since it’s the Kingdom, which donated to them the land in question in 1930.
In his response, President Museveni said he will meet the squatters through the Kampala Minister, Betty Kamya and see how to resolve the dispute.
He however, said he will not compensate the squatters since they encroached on the church land on their own.
Encroachment on public and private land remains a huge challenge in Uganda.
A report by the Judiciary released in January this year shows that the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire Land Commission registered over 6000 land disputes last year alone.
Museveni donates sh300 million
At the same function, President Museveni donated Shillings 300 million towards the construction of the Uganda Orthodox Cathedral at Lubya Hill, in Rubaga Division in Kampala.
The cathedral will be built to commemorate 100 years of the Orthodox Church in Uganda. According to Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, the Archbishop of the Orthodox Church, the cathedral will be known as Hagia Sophia Cathedral.
It is expected to be a replica of Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, which was taken over by the Ottomans. About US$4.5 million (about Shillings 17billion) is required for the construction works.
During his speech, president, Museveni asked the religious leaders to rally their followers to boost their household incomes through commercial activities including agriculture, services, ICTs and industries.
The president also contributed Shillings 80 million to the Sacco of the church members and another Shillings 20 million to the Sacco of orthodox priests.
He pledged to lobby for more funds towards the construction of the church across the orthodox fraternity using his diplomatic relations.
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