While other electorates are very happy with the election of their leaders, I was surprised to experience a different feeling when I went to Bugangaizi Constituency in Kakumiro District, where the State Minister for Works, Mr. Fred Byamukama, represents the people in Parliament.
What shocked me most was when locals labelled Hon. Byamukama as a Member of Parliament representing Anita Among instead of Bugangaizi Constituency. I was shocked and concerned as to why they felt that way. Instead, the locals shouted at me, saying, “You people should tell the President to discipline Mr. Byamukama, and he should stop using State House agents to grab our land.” I was left shocked.
As I was wondering, within two minutes I was handed copies of court documents in which the State Minister for Works had been dragged to court over alleged land grabbing.
The first court document I saw showed that one resident had dragged Mr. Byamukama to the Hoima High Court together with three other individuals over allegations of attempted land grabbing in Kakumiro.
The other defendants named in the suit are Lawrence Bazaala, Raphael Yombo, and Dickson Musiimenta.
Mr. Asiimwe is accusing the four of attempting to take over his land located in Kyakatera Village, Kakindo Sub-county, Kakumiro District.
As I was still reading through the first document, another document was brought to me by another complainant, who had also dragged Minister Byamukama to court over allegations of land grabbing in Nyansimbi LC I, Bitembo Sub-county, Kakumiro District.
Another person then brought more documents showing that he had also dragged Mr. Byamukama to court together with the Commissioner of Land Registration over the alleged illegal cancellation of his land title in an attempt to grab his land.
This made me wonder: with what is now going on at the Ministry of Works, will the minister really be able to fight corruption in the ministry as he claims?
Whoever disputes this article, I urge you to go to Bugangaizi Constituency and hear directly from the locals, who are now calling on the President to discipline Mr. Byamukama.
According to John Bangizi, there is no way the President can trust Fred Byamukama in the fight against corruption when Byamukama himself is facing such allegations.
“My President, we love the NRM, but the actions of Mr. Byamukama regarding our land will make us hate the party,” Bangizi said.
I attempted to call Mr. Fred Byamukama six times and sent him two SMS messages to obtain his comment on the allegations, but my calls went unanswered, and my SMS messages were not replied to.
The writer is a senior veteran journalist.
