Lwengo LCV Boss Kitatta Condemns Lawlessness, Impunity in Recent Cattle Farm Raid

Lwengo, September 5, 2023– The Lwengo District Chairperson, Ibrahim Kitatta, has strongly condemned acts of lawlessness, impunity, and fraud following a shocking 4 AM raid at the cattle farm of an 84-year-old widow, Medias Kemirembe, allegedly carried out by court baillifs accompanied by police officers from Police Headquarters in Naguru.

The incident characterized with battering and rolling of locals, occurred in the wee hours of this Monday night, has sent shockwaves through the community of Kibubbu village, Kalagala Parish in Malongo Subcounty. It all began when individuals escorted by aboit 100 heavily armed police officers arrived with a document they asserted was a court order, giving them the authority to seize 195 cows from a farm. Their justification was a divorce between a one Kiconco and her former husband Geoffrey Mucunguzi alias Katoto, and they argued they were redistributing the couple’s property in the aftermath.

However, a Kibubbu village resident named Fred Nuwagaba challenged this claim, saying that the property in question belonged to Kemirembe, a widow, and her late husband who worked hard to acquire it together. He emphasized that it was family property, not an individual’s.

“If they (court) had divided Katoto’s property as a separate entity from that of his mother Kemirembe, then it would have been acceptable to distribute. But what happened here is blatant property fraud and an abuse of power,” said Nuwagaba.

Other local residents who have lived in the area for long , deeply disturbed by the incident, voiced their concerns emphasizing their strong community ties.

“We have grown up in this area and are well-acquainted with the property’s history. It is evident that Katoto has no legitimate claim to it”, said the angry residents in voxpop interviews with our reporter.

The residents also described the chaotic events that unfolded during the night, noting, “they arrived in the wee hours of the night with guns, teargas and we had to call for help on behalf of the elderly woman. Our community stood united in our efforts to protect her and her property.”

According to the old woman Kemirembe, her son Mucunguzi Katoto has only four cows on the said farm and it is quiet disturbing that the baillifs wanted to take over the family property she acquired with her late husband way back.

Basing on the residents’ report, Mr. Kitatta expressed his outrage at the situation, saying, “this is thuggery, property fraud, and impunity of the highest order. The individuals involved have used the names of Naguru Police to perpetrate these illegal activities here in Lwengo District. We, as the people of Lwengo and the district’s leadership, have strongly condemned these actions, and such illegalities coupled with violations of people’s rights will not be allowed to occur under our watch.”

Mr. Kitatta also voiced his concern over the misuse of government power and resources by those involved, saying, “it’s bad to abuse the resources provided by the government, such as vehicles, uniforms, guns, and fuel, to escort individuals who want to defraud the peasants. It’s a grave act of lawlessness that we will not tolerate.”

The Lwengo District Chairperson reassured the public that these actions were not sanctioned by the government and that the issue would be pursued through the legal channels. He emphasized the importance of proper investigations and following the right legal procedures to determine the rightful ownership of the disputed property.

“This paints a bad picture to our National Resistance Movement (NRM) government. We want to assure you that these heinous actions are not sanctioned by the government, but individuals with selfish interests who want to defraud the old widow”, Mr Kitatta said.

“We will not accept intimidation or thuggery in our community,” Mr. Kitatta declared.

According to Kitatta who was called by the locals to intervene, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s leadership for which he is a subordinate came to restore peace, harmony, respect for rule of law, reconciliation, and freedom of liberty and expression, and as such, police and other leaders should be able to uphold the same values.

The residents have appreciated the Lwengo District Chairperson to have intervened when they made a public outcry seeking rescue.

Now, the situation remains under close watch by the District Security Committee (DSC) led by RDC Wakugembe Ramadhan, and the Lwengo District leadership which is determined to ensure that justice prevails and such actions are prevented in the future.

The Lwengo District Security Committee has urged the parties to uphold the law through following appeals process that is already underway and asked residents to remain calm as they go on with their daily routines.