The government has decided to allocate extensive tracts of land in Mukono District to Senegalese American singer Akon.
This announcement has caused concern among residents in Mpunge Sub-county, who firmly maintain that the land encompassing eight villages is rightfully theirs. These villages are Buleebi, Sango, Mbazi, Kyazi, Lulagwe, Muvo, Kiziru, and Kamwanyi.
In 2022, the government secured a square mile of land in Mukono for Akon’s ambitious project to build a futuristic city valued at $6 billion (Shs22 trillion).
However, the allocation of the land to the singer did not calm local residents; instead, it sparked several protests.
Following these protests, the project seemed to have been put on hold, much to the relief of the residents who thought it had been abandoned.
However, local residents were surprised when a document from the Uganda Land Commission surfaced, announcing plans to open the boundaries of the disputed land.
In response, residents, led by village chairpersons, held a meeting to protest against the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) document.
During the meeting, residents vowed to resist any illegal surveying of their land by the ULC.
Margret Nabbanja, a resident of Buleebi, expressed concern that the allocation could impact her livelihood and ancestral heritage, as the land contains burial sites.
Residents also criticized their elected leaders, including Members of Parliament, the district chairperson, and councillors, for not taking a stronger stance on the Akon land issue.
Sam Kyege, chairperson of Lulagwe village, noted that the land in question, which the government intends to allocate to an individual, is currently inhabited by residents.
He appealed to President Museveni to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Kyege criticized the government for not consulting them as residents who occupy the land. He suggested that someone had misled the government into believing the land was unoccupied.
“The land that the government plans to allocate to the Senegalese singer is already fully inhabited by people. The President should thoroughly investigate this matter and not be misled by opportunists,” Kyege emphasized.
Frida Namyalo, chairperson of Mpunge Sub-county, expressed concern over what she termed as “brazen deception” by brokers from ULS claiming the land belongs to Akon.
Namyalo recommended that the government should seek other areas without current occupants.
FatumaNdisabaNabittaka, the Resident District Commissioner of Mukono, confirmed that the President had indeed allocated the land to Akon.
However, Ms. Ndisaba urged residents to bring forward any individuals holding title deeds or land agreements to her office for compensation by the government.
She cautioned residents against resorting to violence and appealed to them to allow surveyors to conduct their work instead of taking matters into their own hands.
Andrew Nyumba, acting secretary of the Uganda Land Commission, stated that their immediate priority is to conduct a survey of the land to verify its occupancy status.