On Thursday evening, members of the Commission into Land Matters had a stopover at Kajjansi Forest Reserve on the way from Entebbe after visiting the Department of Surveys and Mapping. The Commission had been tipped off that the Forest Reserve was being graded despite the Commission’s directive halting any activity on the land.

A few minutes later a UPDF soldier William Bonge emerged together with Major Edison Akanyehayo. Maj. Akanyehayo who is attached to Makindye Military Police barracks was being escorted by other soldiers carrying batons. Akanyehayo had a Court Order he claimed he received from Bonge on the directive of a businessman Eriya Mubiru who was their mutual friend and reported owned the forest reserve. “He said here is the document, I have not read it even.” When examining the Court Order, Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters Justice Catherine Bamugemereire noted that the Order was instead directing Mubiru to keep off the forest land. “Just going by this Court Order, there should no Grader here.”

Maj. Akanyehayo disassociated himself from Mubiru and claimed that he had been tipped off by his bosses about illegal activities on the land. “We have got our informers around here, there is always a problem; people always come and grab people’s land and they normally come with soldiers.” “Do you work with Eriya?” “Yes, I work with Eriya.” “You are a soldier?” “Eriya is not a soldier?” “He is not a soldier.” “Is he involved with the army?” “Yeah, he is building a house in Aweweta Engineering.” “Oh yeah, he is a contractor for Aweweta Barracks.” “…Eriya did not tell me, I am under command now.” “Does Eriya work for one of your bosses?” “I even didn’t know Eriya.” “Bwanakubwa this is a very bad day for you. What is a soldier doing here? Are you aware that there are soldiers guarding here?” “No.” “How can you not be aware?” “Maj. I want to put it to you that you are lying, you are lying.” “I came along and Afande came with his vehicle. Yes, Afande came with his vehicle, me I drove mine alone I know people are hind.”

As tension was building up between the Military Police and the Police Officers attached to the Commissioner of Inquiry; Justice Catherine Bamugemereire directed Sergeant William Bonge and drivers of the tractors to be taken to the Commission offices for further interrogation. “…to the Commission you make statements because I think there is something going on here beyond what we know. Afande is coming, he didn’t know which Afande obviously or maybe he knew.”