Alam group of companies tycoon Abid Alam pleaded guilty to attempted murder against his two opponents on the 12 square miles of land in Mubende

Alam testified before the commission of inquiry into land matters that his workers led by Jeff Kalemera got into a deadly fight with a group of Bukoba village residents over this land.

“My Lord, what can one do when a group of people enter his fence and starts fighting him. You must also fight back to protect yourself,” Alam told Bamugemereire’s commission.

Alam, who was accompanied by his lawyer Fred Muwema told the commission that the villagers removed windows, doors and destroyed his houses during the attack.

He pinned Simeo Nsubuga, the Kasanda South member of Parliament for fueling this fight.

Alam reported that Simeo incited his workers under Lake Wamala firm enterprises limited and Mityana firm enterprises limited, to strike promising them that if they vote him into parliament, he will remove land from Alam and give it to the villagers.

“Politicians are the problem my Lord, Nsubuga told the voters that land belongs to natives not Indians like me my Lord,” Alam said.

Some of Alam’s torture victims

He further explained that Nsubuga used his position as a former senior police officer to influence the changing of security personnel especially RDCs, DPCs and OCs, making sure that those appointed were on his side which meant that he was denied justice. He said that he compensated over 4000 residents on the land including Simeo who is now fighting him.

He denied allegations that he blocked roads and tortured residents using his security companies Secana security company, Focus security company and world war veteran security group limited.

These security groups shot two residents, beat up and detained others in Alam’s established cells in Kiikka village.

However, Alam faced a tough time when commissioner Robert Ssebunya grilled him for using foreigners especially Rwandese to terrorise locals. Ssebunya said that the commission discovered this when they visited Mubende district last year for a field work tour.

“Mr Alam, you are a security threat, does the immigration department know those Rwandese you are using on your land? They are heartless that’s why they are terrorizing Ugandans,” a bitter Sebunya asked.

Ssebunya also put Alam to task to explain why he was interfering with commission’s work by dragging the commission to the constitutional court. The confused Alam was seen trying to consult his lawyer Fred Muwema who was also very shocked. Muwema tried to assist his legally disturbed client but Justice Catherine Bamugemereire stopped him.

“No no no counsel leave the witness to answer that question himself may be you don’t want him to answer it! It’s asked by a lay man on the commission not a lawyer let a lay man also answer it in a lay man’s language,” Bamugemereire stopped Muwema.

Alam revealed to the commission that he was advised by his lawyers to take the commission to court but it was not his mission to embarrass the commission.

Bamugemereire grilled Alam for compensating villagers with very little amounts of money on their huge pieces of land he took. She gave an example of a one Scovia Nassali who was compensated with 130,000 shillings on her six acres of land. Alam defended himself and noted that he relied on the valuer’s information given to him by my Magrete Beyunga.

Bamugemereire ordered Alam to bring to the commission all the land titles he has this week.

By Jamil Lutakome