By Our Reporter
ARUA
The hearing of the case in which the locals of Biacici village, Yachi Parish, Ogoko Sub County in Madi Okollo district declined to pave way for Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, a High Court Judge to claim full authority over the land she bought in the area has been adjourned again.
The hearing of the matter was on Thursday July 4, 2024 adjourned to Friday 18th October 2024 due to the absence of the High Court Judge who is currently in Kampala.
This is the third time Arua High Court has adjourned the hearing of the case filed by Justice Kania herself because of her absence in court. The first adjournment was on Tuesday April 9, 2024.
The matter now in court arose when the local residents protested the manner in which, a one, Augustine Asea acquired a title for the community land measuring 167.5098 Hectares (about 413 acres) and later sold it to Justice Kania.
As a result, the community has continued to deny Justice Kania rights over the said chunk of land.
Instead, they are demanding the government to consider cancelling the alleged fraudulent land title which Justice Kania transferred into her name after buying the contested land from Asea.
The locals alleged that Asea captured and extended ownership of their land including community roads, part of River Ala and drinking water sources in the title.
The landlords who initially sold only 23 acres of land to Asea are claiming their land has been grabbed in a fraudulent manner.
According to Silverio Andrua, the LC 1 Chairperson of Biacici village, Asea bought the 23 acres of land before extending to claim other areas which belong to the community area.
He said Asea hired private surveyors who picked coordinates of their land without them knowing. Andrua said they came to realize that their land has been grabbed when Asea came up with a land title which encompassed people’s ancestral areas without their knowledge.
While at court, Andrua expressed concern over the continued absence of Justice Kania whenever a date is scheduled for hearing the matter.
“This is the third time we are reporting here in court and all this time, Justice Kania has not been showing up. We are spending the little money we get for our families to transport and feed ourselves during the scheduled dates but unfortunately, Justice Kania doesn’t show up. I’m appealing to the court to ensure that this time round, she appears so that the justice we are seeking over our own land prevails,” Andrua said.
Girism Ambayo, another landlord said they don’t know Justice Kania and secondly, she has no land in their area.
“The only person who bought only 23 acres of land in our area is Augustine Asea only that he later grabbed most of our land in a title he processed fraudulently. By the time Asea was selling the contested land to Justice Kania, she didn’t even come to us to be her witness in the deal; otherwise, we would have told her the truth that time. So, for us we are not aware about their deal but what we know is our land still belongs to us. Let Justice Kania sort herself with Asea without dragging us into their problem,” Ambayo said.
However, when earlier contacted, Renato Kania, the Lawyer representing Justice Rosette Comfort Kania declined to comment on the matter.
