Residents help court bailiffs remove chairs from a classroom during an
eviction exercise at Ushindi Primary School in Arua Town yesterday.
PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO
By FELIX WAROM OKELLO & CLEME
Lira- Pupils and teachers at
Ushindi Primary School in Arua District were yesterday morning left
stranded after court bailiffs cordoned off the school.
The school belongs to Arua Municipality Mayor
Charles Asiki and has a population of about 200 pupils.
However, the pupils, who were reporting for the second term, were barred from entering the classrooms, while teachers were not allowed to conduct the assembly or enter the staff room.
However, the pupils, who were reporting for the second term, were barred from entering the classrooms, while teachers were not allowed to conduct the assembly or enter the staff room.
The court bailiffs were implementing a March 7
High Court order that directed that the land on which the school sits be
returned to Ms Diana Ayume, Ms Eunice Ayume, Ms Joyce Ayume and Mr
Ariye Ayume – the rightful owners.
The land wrangle arose after Mr Emmanuel Tumwine Ayume had sold the land to the directors of the school about 10 years ago, without consent of his sisters.
The land wrangle arose after Mr Emmanuel Tumwine Ayume had sold the land to the directors of the school about 10 years ago, without consent of his sisters.
However, court directed the bailiffs to secure
possession of the land located in Mvara Zone, Arua Hill Division, Arua
Municipality.
“Whereas the under mentioned property in the
occupancy of Asiki Charles has been decreed to Diana Ayume, Eunice
Ayume, Joyce Ayume and Ariye Ayume - the plaintiffs in this suit - you
are directed to put the said plaintiffs in possession of the property,”
the warrant reads in part.
“You are authorised to remove any person bound by
the decree who may refuse to vacate the property,” the court order
further reads.
The school owner protested the action of the
bailiffs. “I bought the land from the head of the family who came to me
with the letters of of administration on that land.
But later the rest of the family complained and
took the matter to the court. I believe I bought the land genuinely,” Mr
Asiki said.
The eviction exercise had at the weekend failed to
take off after the district police commander, Mr Jonathan Musinguzi,
declined to provide security.
DAILY MONITOR.
DAILY MONITOR.