Uganda’s Police Chief Gen Kale Kayihura has admitted that his officers were involved in illegal evictions and demolitions.

Gen Kayihura on Tuesday appeared before a land probe commission chaired by Catherine Bamugemereire to answer queries of police collusion with tycoons to grab land.

For example, the commission heard that businessman Simpson Birungi of Birus Properties Limited had fraudulently bought a title for the Privatization and Utility Sector Reform Unit land on Plot 60/62 along Aldina Visram Road in Jinja.

The inspector General of Government (IGG) would later cancel the land title.

But Birus ran to court that nullified the IGG’s order.

ENTER UGANDA POLICE

According to witness accounts, police ‘forged’ a court order okaying the eviction of tenants from the land in question and the demolition of the buildings thereon, only one day after a notice to the tenants.

“The RDC, RPC, DISO and DPC were against the tenants as they sanctioned the eviction of the occupants. After only 24 hours of notice to tenants, the police went on to act with impunity and demolish the building. What necessitated demolition to happen at 3am?”Ebert Byenkya, the commission’s Lead Counsel, told Kayihura.

“It was absolutely wrong to do so. It’s regrettable and all officers involved should explain,” Kayihura responded

Kayihura then vowed to take action.

“For me the action is immediate. I would like to work with the commission to take action as I get more evidence… I would like to work with the commission to take action as I get more evidence.”