UPDF Col in Hiding after Court Sanctions Cases of Theft and Malicious Damages against him.

A Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) Col is on the run after Makindye magistrate court sanctioned charges of theft and malicious damages against him. The wanted officer has been identified as Col Rtd Dick Lutaaya. According to the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya, who are the rightful owners of the land, they leased the said land to Rwigyema Leonard in 2017 and after making a lease agreement, Rwigyema started operating a washing Bay on the said land, also constructed shops, kiosks and his office. Rwigyema adds that he was shocked five years later while enjoying his quite possession, when he was informed by his Manager that Army, Kanyamas, local defense unit (LDUs) and the police had raided his premises and demolished everything on his site. Rwigyema told us that he went to Katwe police station and reported a case of malicious damage against RTD Col Lutaaya, Nakaye Topisita, and Wakayamba Chrizestoma vide ref no CRB 035/2023. Rwigyema further said that police investigated the case, submitted it to RSA and it was sanctioned. However when the file was sanctioned and as Rwigyema was waiting for Col and his accomplices to appear before the Makindye magistrate, he was told that, on 24th /06/2023 his remaining properties of the land were again demolished completely by Col Lutaya, Teopista Nakayi and the Chairman LC 1 Klezia zone, and this time even, the demolished properties were found in Nakaayi's home. Rwigyema again went to Katwe police station and opened another case of malicious damage and theft vide SD ref 39/01/07/2023 against RTD Col Lutaaya and others. Yesterday Makindye Court magistrate His worship Okipi John Robert remanded LC 1 Chairman of Klezia zone one Wakayamba Chrizestoma who connived with RTD Col Lutaaya and Nakaayi to grab the land of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya. Rwigyema also accused RTD Col Lutaaya of working with impersonators to demolish his properties on the land saying that he used a police officer attached to Katwe police station as OC lands to work as KCCA officer and also a fake lawyer who worked as a surveyor. Rwigyema adds that he wrote to judiciary enquiring about whether they have someone an advocate called Kifuse Maxwell and judiciary responded to him that they don't have an advocate in those names.
BACKGROUND OF THE LAND.
Rwigyema told us that the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad acquired the land in 1990 and is situated on Makindye Namasoole Rd near calendar Guest house. RTD Col Lutaaya also has land opposite that of the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya and all were bibanja holders on the land belonging to Kabaka's land. However Col Lutaaya persuaded the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya so that they can sell him their land and they refused. Rwigyema says that after family refusing to sell the Land, Col Lutaaya went to Buganda Land board and acquired kyappa mungalo (title) from Mengo in 2021 and encroached on land of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya with aim of stealing it by initiating a series of alleged illigal activities. After acquiring the title in his names, Col Lutaaya transferred the title in the names of his caretaker Nakaayi Teopista and started working behind the doors to Chase away the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya who were in possession and had been renting it out commercially. Rwigyema adds that after Makindye magistrate remanded LC 1 Chairman of Klezia zone, Col Lutaaya and his caretaker Nakaayi Teopista are also wanted by Court but they have since gone into hiding. However the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya is seeking justice and hopes that Court will hold RTD Col Lutaaya accountable for his alleged fraudulent actions. This ongoing land dispute serves a Stark reminder of the challenges faced by land owners in Uganda and the need for a fair and transparent legal system to resolve such conflicts.