The Deputy RDC of Namayingo District Trevor Solomon Baleke has intervened in the land wrangle that split children of the Late Adulamu Okongo of……. village …….. Subcounty
The DRDC ordered for the arrest of Oboth Alikipo 56, a heir to his late father Adulamu Okongo for grabbing land belonging to his sisters which was given to them by their late father.
The arrest follows several failed interventions aimed at resolving a land conflict between Oboth and his sister; Deborah Nyafono, Samali Nambubi, Achengi Eunice and Elizabeth Nyasuna.
The sisters accuse Oboth of removing the boundary marks from the land given to them by their late father and ordered them to go away, under the pretext that in their culture girls cannot inherit their father’s property.
Alikipo and the four sisters are siblings of same father and mother.
In a meeting at locus, the sisters informed the Deputy RDC how Oboth had on several occassions threatened to harm them should they fail to back off the family land
Oboth’s elder sons aged 24 and 27 also pinned him for land grabbing.
“He removed the boundary marks between his land and that of our aunties. He also grabbed the piece which our grandfather allocated us,” said his elder son Ndago.
Oboth’s paternal uncle (brother to the late Odongo) decribed the heir as the biggest problem and trouble causer in their family.
“We have tried many times to handle this matter but all efforts have been fruitless since my son Oboth disorganizes every meeting we try to hold. One time he came with an axe and threatened to kill all of us. He removed the boundary marks and to him, the girls are not supposed to inherit property,” he told the meeting chaired by DRDC
The LCI chairman and elders in the community plus clan members all pointed fingers at Okoth.
Community members told the Deputy RDC in the meeting that Oboth was given about a mailo of land but he has been selling and now remains with about 8 acres.
“But he wants to grab even these two acres from his sisters of the same mother and father. Oboth you are very greedy with earthly things,” said elders.
Flanked by the Namayingo District OC CID, OC Child and Family Protection Unit and the OC Banda Police Station, visited the locus to ascertain the point od contention especially where boundary marks were allegedly removed.
Much as all clan members, local leaders, elders and the neighbours point at one point, Oboth pointed at a different area and insisted he was the only one who knew the exact place where he removed the boundary marks.
“It is those girls who are trying to grab my land. In fact our later mother also grabbed part of my land but I just forgave her. So when she died, I had to reclaim it,” said Oboth.
His statement however, irked the Deputy RDC and his team.
“OC I think go with Mr. Oboth to record his statement. I shouldn’t leave this place and hear that machetes and axes have been brought out. He should explain how his mother who owned this land before, grabbed the same from him. He should also help us to know how the boundary marks were removed,” ordered the Deputy RDC renowned for resolving land conflicts.
Oboth’s subsequent arrest was welcomed by everyone in the village including his own family.
“Thank you so much RDC. I think we shall have some peace,” said Samuel Ndago, Oboth’s brother of the same mother and father.
Later Mr Baleke informed the press that it was wrong and illegal for the families to think that girls cannot inherit properly.
“They are also children. Some are even better than their brothers. A girl can be a heir, and can inherit property. But also respecting the will of your late father is very important. You can remove boundary marks and own land given out to another person by a deceased. It is criminal,” warned Mr. Baleke.
