He acknowledged that he once held a lease for a plot of land in the Nakivubo area but explained that the land is no longer under his ownership.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has clarified that he has no ownership or involvement in the land around St. Balikuddembe Market—commonly known as Owino Market—following recent demolitions that affected several vendors.
In a public statement, Tayebwa said he had received numerous inquiries and seen several social media posts linking him to the partial demolition that recently took place around the busy downtown market in Kampala.
He acknowledged that he once held a lease for a plot of land in the Nakivubo area but explained that the land is no longer under his ownership.
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According to Tayebwa, he legally obtained the lease in 2018 through the required application procedures and paid all the necessary fees, just like any other citizen. However, when he later submitted building plans for approval to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the authority informed him that the land was needed for strategic public purposes.
“KCCA offered to compensate me for the land, and I accepted the proposal,” Tayebwa said in the statement.
He added that the authority took possession of the land approximately three years ago, meaning he no longer has any legal claim, ownership, or control over the property.
“As a result, I have no interest whatsoever in that land today. Therefore, there is absolutely no basis for me to evict anyone or participate in any demolition on land that does not belong to me,” he explained.
The Deputy Speaker also expressed sympathy for vendors affected by the recent demolition, describing the situation as unfortunate. However, he maintained that he had no connection to the operation carried out around the market.
Tayebwa further dismissed claims that he acquired the land because of his current position in government. He clarified that the lease was obtained in 2018, long before he became Deputy Speaker and at a time when he held no ministerial position or office that could influence such transactions.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
