A Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) has come under scrutiny by locals regarding allegations of land grabbing in Mawembe zone, Kagumba Sub County, Kamuli.
Mr Timothy Halango who served as member of the standby police disciplinary tribunal and currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Welfare, Production and Sports and also Chairman of Police FC, is accused by locals who said wants to displace them in guise of buying the land legally.
The local residents who are sitting tenants and the landlord, accuse him of destroying their crop gardens after forging land sale agreements over time to accomplish his missions.
One of the residents who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the Commissioner of Police arrived as a tenant engaged in sugarcane cultivation on a 66-acre parcel of land.
The resident further revealed that the Commissioner subsequently colluded with the Chairperson of LCII, who provided him with a fraudulent land sales agreement dated 2019 before the demise of Philip Oboi in 2024, the original owner
"The land sales agreement was deceitfully made by him and the Chairperson of LCII. It beats our understanding that the document bears a stamp dated in 2019, despite the fact that official stamps from government were issued in 2022. This is theft by trick which is unacceptable," the resident remarked,
He revealed that some of the witnesses listed on the purported land sales agreement had passed away before the death of Mr Oboi.
In the process, the local residents along with their leaders barred the Police Commissioner from proceeding with the ploughing of the disputed land using the tractor.
In self defence before Kamuli district Deputy Resident Commissioner, Adonia Muguwa he stated that he had initially rented land from the late Phillip Oboi, and prior to the expiration of the tenancy agreement, Oboi had sold him a portion of the land approximately 14 acres and later a one Kasiba son to the deceased sold him 45 acres following their father's death
"I do not have the locus to resolve family disputes but the one who rented the land to me is the same person who sold me the initial 45 acres," he said adding that he purchased the land in two separate parcels, and then from Oboi's sons on three occasions.
"When Mr. Oboi passed away, his sons, accompanied by the individuals with whom I was dealing, requested an additional 5 million shillings to cover burial expenses, with a promise of land in return," he stated, adding that he acquired 56.6 acres of land out of the 60.6 acres he had initially rented.
The Police Commissioner claimed to have bought 56 acres at Shs 1.6 million each leaving them with only 10.6 acres.
Justine Mpindi district female councilor for Kagumba subcounty observed a prolonged standoff involving the police commissioner pertaining land and urged the concerned authorities to intervene before the situation escalates beyond control.
"During the burial ceremony for Mzee Oboi, his children publicly said that their father had rented land to him for six years since 2019 but there remains curiosity regarding how a deceased person could seemingly return to sell him land once more." She voiced
Bernard Kempaka, LCIII chairperson Kagumba subcounty expressed concern that his constituents are living under fear with some facing threats of arrest by police officers.
He blamed other police officers for allegedly seeking to please one side of their leadership.
He cautioned that if the situation continues, they intend to take the matter to the higher authorities of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
"We find ourselves in arms with district police officers who are threatening to arrest us in an attempt to appease their boss. This is impunity and entirely unacceptable and we are determined to resist and will continue to do so to the dot as mandated by law" Kempaka said
80 year old Robinah Nakitende, who is one of the surviving widows who has been occupying the land time immemorial observed that her co-wife's son a one Kasiba might have fraudulently sold the land and urged the authorities to intervene on their behalf.
She refuted circulating rumors that her late husband sold the disputed land to Mr. Halango, asserting that such claims are baseless without any firm grip.
"We received shares from our husband during his lifetime and am pretty sure they concocted the land sales agreement with the other family but we shall pursue them" Mrs Nakitende said
Adonia Mafumo, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Kamuli, reassured the concerned residents that they will convene a meeting with the worrying parties to ensure that the conflicts to the land in question is resolved amicably.
LCII OFFICIAL ARRESTED
It should be recalled that authorities in Kamuli detained George Batambule Chairperson LCII Kibuye parish, Kagumba sub county on the directives of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) on grounds of forgery on the 14/4/2026
This incident arose from a land dispute among the family of the late Oboi Phillip, who passed away in 2022.