The forthcoming meeting is expected to put Ssegawa and Dr. Lugero’s competing documents under scrutiny as the Lands Ministry seeks to establish the lawful status of the disputed property and determine what, if any, compensation may be due.
This year’s event is being held under the theme “Empowering the IK Community of Karamoja through Coffee Farming to End Poverty.” The theme reflects the organizers’ broader ambition to use coffee farming as a tool for economic empowerment while drawing attention to communities facing poverty and limited livelihood opportunities.
The journalists’ body has also questioned the continued detention of Astezas, arguing that it contravenes the constitutional requirement governing the period within, which an arrested person must be brought before court. In a protest note shared on the UJA platform, the association cited Article 23(4)(b) of the 1995 Constitution, which provides for the 48-hour limit.
Kirunda added that while in police detention, Twinamatsiko was allegedly subjected to acts of torture in form of harsh beating, knocking against the wall, neck strangulation, nose squeezing, stomach punching, head hitting by some police constables lasting for about 30 minutes, hence leaving him in serious pain with sustained bodily injuries on one of his eyes.
“Bwekumbule’s detention is viewed as an attempt to shield some leaders from public accountability which is unacceptable. The Association therefore demands that he unconditionally be released or produced before court if he is suspected to have committed any crime,” the statement read in part.