Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urgently called for a meeting to address the escalating land dispute involving residents of Amolatar and Nakasongola districts.
On July 16, 2023, residents of Namasale Town Council in Amolatar protested against Juliet Katushabe, who claims ownership of 100 acres of land previously inhabited by her late father, Kawaki Nafutali.
Despite Katushabe’s efforts to hold a meeting for discussion, tensions erupted between the locals of Namasale town council and those from Lenko landing site in Nakasongola district, resulting in violent clashes over the land.
Nakasongola MP Noah Mutebi Wanzala, on August 1, 2023, wrote to the Prime Minister, seeking her intervention in the matter.
Prime Minister Nabbanja has summoned key officials, including the Ministers of Internal Affairs, Local Government, Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, along with the Prime Minister of Baruuli Kingdom, and leaders from both Amolatar and Nakasongola districts to attend the meeting.
During a plenary on July 17, 2023, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among condemned the Amolatar incident and urged the Minister of Internal Affairs to hold a meeting for resolution.
However, MP Moses Junior Okot Bitek from Kioga county has declined to participate in the meeting, alleging bias from the Prime Minister’s side. Okot Bitek expressed discontent over the exclusion of Lango cultural leaders from the meeting while their Baruuli counterparts were invited.
Furthermore, Okot Bitek expressed dissatisfaction that the meeting is scheduled at the Prime Minister’s office instead of Amolatar, where the land dispute took place.
He also emphasized that the land wrangle should not be linked to historical conflicts between Lango and Baruuli, contrary to the beliefs of the Prime Minister and Nakasongola leaders.
MP Okot Bitek insisted that Katushabe and her lawyer Eyotre should be present at the meeting.
Amolatar district chairman Geoffrey Ocen intends to inform the government that Baruuli individuals do not own land in Amolatar, except for those who legally purchased land in the district. Additionally, he seeks an apology from them for any mistreatment of Amolatar residents on the lake.
