President Yoweri Museveni has directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to ensure that Patricia Alinda Nyakairima, the widow of the late Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, receives compensation to resolve a longstanding land conflict in Kiyuni, Gayaza sub-county, Kyankwanzi district.
The directive follows a controversial incident during the burial of 87-year-old Dimitiria Nakyanzi, whose funeral was allegedly blocked by Mrs. Nyakairima on contested ancestral land. The property, spanning three square miles, has been at the center of tension since 2022 when Mrs. Nyakairima reportedly evicted residents, accusing them of illegal occupation.
Graves Demolished and Villages Affected
Residents accuse Mrs. Nyakairima of demolishing graves and preventing further burials in the area, exacerbating community unrest. “She has destroyed graves and barred us from burying our loved ones. Our ancestral heritage is being erased,” lamented a local elder.
The conflict has affected seven villages, including Kiyuni, Kyerere East, and Kyakibenje. Locals claim that UPDF soldiers and heavy machinery were deployed to level parts of the land, sparing only residential houses, which has left hundreds in fear of further displacement.
A Call for Resolution
President Museveni’s intervention underscores the need for a peaceful resolution to land disputes, which have increasingly become a source of conflict across Uganda. By directing compensation, the President aims to strike a balance between Mrs. Nyakairima’s land claims and the rights of the affected residents to maintain their ancestral ties to the area.
Prime Minister Nabbanja is tasked with overseeing the process to ensure fairness and transparency, as tensions remain high in the affected communities.
