KAMPALA: Concerned lawyers have written a letter to police about illegal eviction threats of their client, a Non-Governmental Organisation dealing in human rights in Soroti City that has been in occupancy for close to two decades.
The lawyers of Kania & Alli Advocates & Solicitors contend that their client, Soroti Development Association and NGOs Network-SODANN, has been occupying office space at Soroti-Harridas Road Plot 23 since 2009 but lately, has been receiving eviction threats.
“Take notice that the property described as LRV 3470 Folio 12 land at Soroti-Harridas Road Plot 23 is the office of Soroti Development Association and NGOs Network-SODANN (our client) which is in use, physical possession and occupation of the same as a tenant of Soroti City from February 2009,” reads in part the lawyer’s letter
Adding: “It has come to our notice that a one Erionu Aremet Micheal is falsely claiming ownership of the property and has enlisted the aid of certain lawyers and vagabonds from Soroti City to interfere with our client’s quiet possession of its said premises. These errant individuals have put the property up for sale.”
According to Mr Moses Omiat, the Executive Director of the NGO, claims unknown people on Sunday morning descended on their office premises and attempted to throw them out and their property.
The lawyers further contend that currently, there is a legal dispute about the ownership of the same premises before the Soroti High Court, which dispute hasn’t yet been determined on who is the rightful owner.
Court records show that the matter is coming up on June 4.
Further, the lawyers aver that it’s unfair for their client to be threatened with an eviction without the determination of the legal ownership dispute in the court.
“Take further notice that the High Court at Soroti is presently adjudicating a dispute over the ownership of the said property in Civil Suit No. 40 of 2023; Erionu Aremet Micheal Vs SODANN and another, and therefore, any dealings in the property may prove null and void depending on the outcome of the dispute,” the lawyers aver.
Adding: “We call upon the Uganda Police to apprehend all persons trespassing on our client’s premises at LV 3470 Folio 12 land at Soroti-Harridas Road Plot 23 with a view to their prosecution for trespass to the land. We also implore all well-meaning and law-abiding citizens to reject Mr Erionu Aremet Michael and his attempts at unlawfully selling our client’s office premises.”
A case of criminal trespass and malicious damage has since been filed before Central Police Station in Soroti City under the reference number 48/05/05/2025 against Mr Erionu.
Mr Francis Ajum, one of the lawyers of Mr Erionu when asked about the attempts to carry out illegal eviction, denied any knowledge of the same.
“I’m aware that there is a civil suit which is pending before the Soroti High Court and it’s seeking to recover rent in arrears amounting about Shs69m from SODANN. About attempts to evict the NGO, I’m not aware of that development. That is all I can say for now,”counsel Ajum said yesterday in a telephone interview.
Last year, President Museveni directed the Lands ministry to use all measures to ensure that illegal land\ property evictions are immunized in the country.
The head of state said the government should ensure that Ugandans, especially those at the grassroots, are protected from illegal evictions.
Likewise, in 2021, Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo issued a legal notice to guide in the carrying out of evictions.
Some of the guidelines included that every demolition shall be preceded by a valid court order and require that formal authorization for the demolition be presented before the demolition.
The other guideline by the Chief Justice is that the police and the local authority of the area shall be present to witness the demolition, and the police shall preserve law and order during the exercise.
