Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered the reopening of part of the government land housing Rushebeya Market in Rukiga District, which was fenced off in April 2026.
The land, located at Rushebeya Trading Centre in Rwamucucu Sub-county, hosts a public market that operates twice a month and serves traders from across the region.
The disputed section was allegedly fenced off by former Rukiga District Woman MP Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi and her husband, Andrew Muhwezi, who reportedly warned residents against accessing it.
Traders operating in lockups on the land also faced eviction threats. Some were allegedly told to stop paying rent to landlords who had not supported Kamusiime in the 2026 general elections.
Balaam intervened on Thursday during his nationwide anti-corruption tour, making the disputed site his first stop in the district. Residents told the minister that the couple had threatened to shoot anyone who trespassed on the fenced land.
One of the landlords, Julius Arineitwe, told the minister that his tenant, Barbra Tukamuhabwa, had refused to pay Shs2 million in rent, allegedly claiming she was acting on instructions from Kamusiime and Muhwezi. Arineitwe said he built his lockup in 1993 and had since earned a living by renting it out.
Barugahara ordered Tukamuhabwa's immediate arrest and directed that she be handed over to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit over allegations that she had colluded to grab public land and frustrate landlords.
She was arrested and taken to Rukiga Police Station.
Rukiga Resident District Commissioner Zadock Kamusiime said security officials had held a meeting after the land was fenced off to discuss the dispute and alleged defiance of a presidential directive on compulsory acquisition of the land.
“Government is expected to compensate affected parties, but the land should remain under government control for public use as a market and other functions,” Kamusiime said.
Balaam directed residents and traders to resume using the land as the government engages the Chief Government Valuer to determine compensation for Kamusiime and Muhwezi.
“If the couple disagrees with the presidential directive, they should seek legal redress against President Yoweri Museveni instead of blocking public use,” Barugahara said.
Neither Kamusiime nor Muhwezi was present at the site or at the district headquarters to respond to the allegations.
The dispute over Rushebeya Market land has persisted for years. On November 8, 2017, unidentified individuals reportedly began surveying the market land, after which inmates from Ndorwa Government Prison were deployed to demarcate and fence it.
Residents protested and attempted to lynch the inmates before they were evacuated.
The dispute is also linked to a 2015 court case in which David Gakyaro sued Rwamucucu Sub-county leaders over the cutting down of his trees without authorisation.
According to the account provided by local sources, the Kabale High Court ordered the sub-county to pay Shs 11 million in damages, but only Shs6 million was paid.
Gakyaro subsequently returned to court and obtained an order to attach the market land after then Sub-county Chief Justus Ampeire and LCIII Chairperson Justus Tushabomwe allegedly failed to appear to testify.
In April 2026, another portion of the land was fenced off by individuals reportedly led by Kamusiime and Muhwezi, under security protection.
The section remained inaccessible to the public until Barugahara issued his reopening directive.