Yesterday, the Anti-Corruption Unit led by Col Edith Nakalema arrested and handed over businessman Abid Alam to Police for commanding the destruction of property, torture, and gang-rape at Bukoba Village in Kassaanda District on Saturday.
According to the Daily Monitor, the property destroyed by the attackers includes three acres of banana plantations, knocked down houses and it is alleged that they ran off with 200 cows and 50 goats. This was topped with torture and gang-raping a woman in front of her children.
Wamala Regional Police Commander Bob Kagarura said that they have arrested three key suspects, and they will be charged with attempted murder, theft, malicious damage to property and rape.
“We have some of the key culprits in custody, but our team is still on ground investigating the matter,” Kagarura said on Wednesday.
This incident happened on a farm that belongs to Arthur Mugyenyi, the Deputy Director of Internal Security Organisation (ISO). Mugyenyi said that his workers on the farm currently have nowhere to sleep after their places of abode were destroyed.
“I am currently trying to see how my workers can get treatment, they also have nowhere to sleep because their shelter was destroyed by the goons,” Mugyenyi said.
The dispute
The disputed land in Bukoba spans an area of 19 square miles with over 1,000 sitting tenants. Alam has set up a sugar plantation on part of it, but has over the years claimed full ownership of all of it.
In 2017, Alam was arrested and released on Police bond in connection with the 2006-2008 violent evictions, destruction of property and murder of three people in regard to the same disputed land.
Kassanda South Member of Parliament Simeo Nsubuga said that Alam has repeatedly made it hard for people to live on the land by using such brutal tricks.
“Mr Alam has used all tricks to chase away the poor people from their land, but we shall not tolerate that,” Simeo Nsubuga said.