By Elah Geofrey Mbongale
The ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation has through an arête reference No. 00000238/A/MINATD signed by the minister on October 24, 2017, ordered for the dissolution of the Bolifamba Cultural and Development Association, BOCUDA, created on October 30, 2012.
The dissolution comes following a petition by members of the original BOCUDA created in 1988 and headed by Prof. Fritz Ndiva Mbua.
According to official documents procured by The SUN, the BOCUDA of 1988 was created with the aim of perpetuating the cultural and development aspects of the Bolifamba village Mile 16 and its environs. The association was also expected to concern itself with sustaining and advancing the native culture and undertake developmental projects such as acquiring land for the expansion of the village for the purpose of building projects, expansion of pipe born water and other related projects which are for the development of the village.
However, in a sudden twist of events another association was registered on October 30, 2012 with the same name with the complicity of the current chief of Lower Bolifamba Village, Chief Kombe Simon having a certain Hans Njako Mokanya as president.
The boon of contention between the two BOCUDAs is a 68 hectares portion of land acquired by the BOCUDA 1988 through the then Senior Divisional Officer, Eyeya Zanga Louis in 1993. The Gre a Gre act of sale between BOCUDA of 1988 represented by then Dr. Fritz Ndiva Mbua and the state represented by Eyeya Zanga Louis, conferred ownership of said land to the association, according to decree no. 76/167 of 27 April 1976.
With the registration of another BOCUDA on October 30, 2012, the new team led by the current chief has been accused of indiscriminately selling off portions of the said land to individuals. Prof. Fritz Ndiva Mbua and his team have also accused the new BOCUDA of selling out portions of land reserved for cemeteries, playgrounds and an incinerator.
Going by the current decision by MINATD to dissolve the BOCUDA of 2012, for inciting public disorder, it therefore means that the BOCUDA of 1988 with Prof. Fritz Ndiva Mbua is the legal association with ownership of the said land.
According to sources close to Prof. Fritz Ndiva Mbua, he has warned all those who sold and bought land from the dissolved BOCUDA of 2012 that they did so at their own risk, since the association never had ownership of the said land in the first place.