Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-04-16 15:30:41
Security organs have taken control of Plot 31-39 Nile Avenue in Jinja, declaring it out of bounds for Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and the Muslim community due to an ongoing court case. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Darius Nandinda, who consulted various stakeholders including the Ministry of Lands, Uganda Lands Commission, and the Office of the Presidency.
Nandinda stated that the takeover of the land was necessary to prevent any potential misunderstandings between the health workers at Jinja Hospital and the Muslim community in Jinja City. He emphasized that no construction or access to the land is permitted by either party until the legal dispute is resolved, with security maintaining control of the area.
Both parties have been summoned to a meeting in Kampala on April 17 with the Uganda Lands Commission, Ministry of Health officials, and other stakeholders to address the issue. This decision follows a demonstration by hospital staff that disrupted operations and left some patients unattended, prioritizing emergency cases and expectant mothers.
The Muslim community had previously cleared the land, started constructing a perimeter fence, and held Eid prayers on the site to assert their claim. Jinja Regional Referral Hospital director Dr. Alfred Yayi expressed frustration over the lack of response from Jinja City leadership and security regarding the land dispute.
In response, District Khadi Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga deferred comments, awaiting the outcome of the meeting in Kampala to determine the next steps. The decision by the Jinja city security committee has caused uncertainty and tension among residents.
The controversy over the land allocation intensified last month when residents protested against Lands State Minister Sam Mayanja’s decision to allocate the disputed land to Muslims. Mayanja asserted that the land rightfully belongs to the Muslim community based on historical constitutional references dating back to 1900.
He also declared that no land board has the authority to grant land that belongs to individuals or organizations like the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC). Mayanja ordered the cancellation of any illegal titles on the Muslim land in accordance with Section 91 of the Commission Land Registration Act.
The situation remains unresolved as both parties await a resolution from the legal process and the meeting in Kampala. The control of Plot 31-39 Nile Avenue continues to be a contentious issue, highlighting the complex dynamics between land ownership, religious rights, and legal disputes in Jinja City.
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