A disagreement has arisen between a former Member of Parliament (MP) and the Catholic Church in Kasese, stemming from the partial dismantling of a hostel building.
This conflict has prompted the involvement of the Police in the Rwenzori East region, which is seeking legal clarification from the court regarding a case involving former Bukonzo East MP Kithende Kalibogha and the Catholic Diocese of Kasese concerning the ownership of land on which a hostel is situated.
Reportedly, unidentified individuals, allegedly deployed by the Kasese Catholic Diocese, conducted the unauthorized partial demolition of the hostel located in the Nyakabingo ward of Central division in Kasese municipality.
Nelson Tumushiime, the spokesperson for the Rwenzori East Police region, explained that the demolition of a property subject to a pending court ruling has escalated tensions between the two parties. As a result, the police are seeking relevant documentation from the court to facilitate a resolution that ensures peace.
The genesis of this dispute dates back to 1991 when Kithende Kalibogha established a hostel as part of the Kithende Hostels Project, aimed at providing educational support to orphans and underprivileged students in Kasese district. These hostels, catering to both boys and girls, served the community until 2010 when they were purportedly auctioned off due to a court order resulting from a legal dispute where Kalibogha failed to pay charges amounting to 400 million Ugandan shillings.
Expressing shock at the public auctioning of his property without court consent while legal proceedings were ongoing, Kalibogha emphasized the irregularity of the situation.
Conversely, Fr. Landus Bwambale, the vicar general of Kasese Catholic Diocese and its land administrator, asserted that they acquired the land through a public auction facilitated by court bailiffs after the failure of the owner to settle a debt of 400 million shillings.
Fr. Bwambale clarified that the demolition was limited to removing old iron sheets and was carried out following notification to various security agencies and local authorities for property rehabilitation purposes.
In response to the alleged illegal demolition, Kalibogha’s legal representative, Mishel Bwambale, indicated preparations for legal action against the Church, a move that the Church is prepared to contest in court.
Despite the looming legal confrontation, Fr. Bwambale affirmed the Church’s readiness to address the matter through legal channels if necessary.
