Residents threaten to lynch Chinese investors over land

By Nathan Ngobi

Residents of Bulesa village in Bulesa sub county, Bugiri District are living under fear and on suspicion that Chinese investors are plotting t grab their land.

This follows reports of unknown people moving with Chinese nationals, inspecting land in the area yet without the consent of the owners.

According to  Steven Mugeni, the Bulesa  sub county LC3 Chairperson, he has received several calls from residents of Bulesa village complaining about unknown people moving with Chinese investors inspecting people’s  land without permission.

“They (Chinese) move while taking photographs of the land, mapping and creating road network  which puts the lives of locals under fear that their land is a target,” Mugeni said.

He said that following such fears and threats, he intends to report the matter to the Bugiri RDC for intervention.

He said that he has directed the Bulesa area LC1 chairman one Babi to organize a village meeting where locals would air out their grievances.

“I am aware my people in Bulesa complained and if we keep quiet it may lead to insecurity so we shall involve higher authorities. Land in Uganda belongs to the people,” Mugeni added.

Some bitter residents whose identities are not disclosed here for their security told  The Second Opinion that there are three people behind masterminding the land grabbing in connivance with Chinese investors through a project in Bulesa.

They disclosed Bagaga Ndimuto, Richard Ndimuto and Tekobera Ndimuto  and one Sooka, all grandchildren of late Ndimuto Muhamed.

The sources reveal that while their father Kibira Ndimuto is still alive and very old, the sons asked for their share long ago and sold them off.

They later came back sometime trying to re-own the sold land but were dragged to court in Iganga where they lost the case.

However, shockingly last month, the trio surfaced, driving in a V8 land cruiser in company of some unknown Chinese investors and started inspecting people’s land without the consent of the owners.

Information obtained by this media house shows that trio use one Mangeni who lives in Nakabale village who operates as a police informer to scare the locals.

Mangeni is a son to their sister.

The residents also told us that at first, their area LC1 chairman one Babi had resisted attending to Chinese  but after several visits to his home including night visits where Chinese would  sit in his house, he  changed his mind and now sides with them in the name of bringing development in he area.

When  The Second Opinion contacted area LC1 chairman one Babi , he confirmed that it is true Chinese have visited his home several times wanting land to do some development.

He said that most people are willing to give out their land while others are resisting.

He said that he plans to call for a village meeting so that the matters are ironed out.

Speaking to Hon. Silwany Solomon, the Bukoli central Member of Parliament (MP), he said that he is not aware about Chinese investors looking for land in Bulesa, apart from some dam project along the swamp between Bugweri and Busowa which is purely funded by the Islamic development Bank.

“Am not aware of such Chinese in Bulesa, and if they are there, then they are illegal in the area because issues of investors are channeled through the district authority with all relevant stakeholders involved not just bumping into the village incognito,” Silwany said.

He said that he would consult the district authority over the matter.

Busoga East RPC one afande Asimwe said that he was not aware but would contact the Bugiri DPC to intervene and give a report before the matter gets out of hand.