Wakiso Residents Accuse Landowner of Blocking Road and Destroying Borehole

Residents in Katakke Village, Namayumba Sub-county, Wakiso District, have voiced their distress over a land dispute that has led to the alleged obstruction of a community road and the destruction of a borehole they have relied on for years. The community points fingers at Mr. Fredrick Wanyama, who they claim purchased land in the area in 2012 and subsequently began restricting access to these essential facilities.

According to residents like Robert Bbosa, the borehole, originally a donation in 2008, and the access road have been communal resources long before Mr. Wanyama’s arrival. Bbosa alleges that after the borehole was vandalized, residents were forced to use the open, deep hole until Mr. Wanyama reportedly contaminated it, asserting it was on his property. Despite initial intervention by local leaders allowing temporary use, access was reportedly blocked again, forcing residents to travel further for water, raising health concerns due to exposure to animals.

The road in question, described by 77-year-old resident Teddy Nampenda as a route used for generations, is also a critical pathway for schoolchildren attending a nearby government school. Residents claim Mr. Wanyama erected “No trespassing” signs and even planted banana trees to deter usage. Some residents have reportedly been accused of trespassing on Mr. Wanyama’s land for attempting to use the road.

When reached for comment, Mr. Wanyama denied all allegations, calling them false, but declined to elaborate. The Wakiso Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Muwanga Lutaaya, stated that no individual has the right to block community access roads or water sources. His office plans to convene both parties next week to mediate and find a resolution, urging for calm in the interim.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/landowner-residents-clash-over-road-and-borehole-in-wakiso-5624900