By Frank Kamuntu
In a detailed statement addressing the recent allegations surrounding the alleged brutal arrest of an elderly woman in Mityana, Prossy Mwanjuzi, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (D/RDC) of Mityana, has provided a comprehensive clarification, shedding light on the circumstances that led to the incident.
On December 6, 2024, the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Nabakooba Judith, forwarded two audios to Mwanjuzi. These audios were sent by Kasita Matia, a resident of Namutunku village in Maanyi Sub County, who raised concerns about the sale of approximately 300 acres of land by unscrupulous individuals. In response to these concerns, Mwanjuzi, a member of the Mityana District Security Committee, took immediate action.
“I was deeply concerned after listening to the audios and decided to convene a meeting with the landlord, local leaders, and Kasita Matia on December 11, 2024. The objective was to understand the matter more thoroughly before offering guidance,” Mwanjuzi explaines.
After the meeting, which involved intense deliberations, the committee opted to visit the land in question to conduct a field inspection and engage with local residents. However, the situation escalated when new audios emerged, this time from Nazziwa Sylivia, the mother of Nalugo Teopista (based in Saudi Arabia). These audios incited violence and alleged that high-ranking officials, including Hon. Minister Nabakooba Judith and President Museveni’s daughter Natasha, were behind the land sale dispute.
On December 13, 2024, while visiting the land, Mwanjuzi and her team learned of further disturbing allegations. “It was reported that Nazziwa Sylivia had instructed the local community members to prepare pangas (machetes) and target any ‘Westerners’ present during the meeting, accusing them of being agents of Natasha, who she claimed was behind the land sale,” she stated.
The disputed land, belonging to the late Lubowa’s grandfather, was still registered under a blue page land title. Lubowa, with the help of Kakooza Bright, had taken steps to process the land title, a move that Nazziwa Sylivia and her daughter, Nalugo Teopista, opposed, believing it was done without the consent of the bibanja holders (land tenants). As a result, Sylivia allegedly incited the local community to take matters into their own hands.
Describing the community’s reaction as hostile, Mwanjuzi explained that the actions of Nazziwa Sylivia appeared to incite violence and tribal tensions. “Since these actions were illegal and incited criminal behavior, we decided to take Nazziwa Sylivia into custody for questioning,” she said.
However, after recording her statement at the Maanyi Police Post, Sylivia was let free and returned home, further complicating the situation.
Mwanjuzi emphasized that the local authorities had acted responsibly in addressing the volatile situation. “As members of the District Security Committee, we are committed to ensuring peace and order in Mityana. We will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action if necessary,” she affirmed.
Meanwhile, residents have since praised D/RDC’s professionalism, saying that if she had not ‘checked’ in Nazziwa, it would have been a bloody situation in Mityana.
“We are grateful to the Deputy RDC for taking swift and professional action. She showed great leadership in addressing the land dispute, ensuring that all parties were heard before making any decisions. Her calm and composed approach is exactly what Mityana needs,” – local resident, Mutyaba John noted, “Mwanjuzi handled the situation with great care and attention to detail. In such a tense matter, she kept the community’s best interests at heart, and we are confident that she will continue to ensure peace in our district.”
