Bizarre rites done on farm, court told

By WILFRED AYAGA

A former Court of Appeal judge Tuesday told the High Court how invaders from a neighbouring country performed strange rituals on his farm before they forcefully evicted him.

Justice Benna Lutta told High Court judge Isaac Lenaola that hundreds of Sabaot tribesmen from Uganda descended on the farm located in Endebes in 1983, and slaughtered his animals before performing bizarre tribal rites.

“Thy cut one of the bulls into half and started performing strange rituals which I could not understand,” Lutta told an attentive court.

He was giving evidence in a case where he wants the over 1,000-acre piece of land bordering Mt Elgon forest returned to him by the government. He claims that the invaders settled on the farm without his consent.

“It was not with my consent. We never gave our permission,” he said.

Lutta who served in the East Africa Court of Appeal between 1973 and 1975 said the land has not been returned to him despite numerous requests to the government.

He says that the invaders destroyed his crops, including wheat, barley and maize.

“I had made numerous investments in the farm, which was registered under my name and that of my wife and son,” Lutta told the court.

Lutta narrated to the court how on the material day, he received a call form one of his workers informing him of the invasion.

“The invaders were wild and armed with machetes and clubs. I could not go to my house,” Justice Lutta revealed.

He disclosed that efforts to access the land five years ago were done in fear. Among developments he revealed had come up in the farm over the years are a secondary school, two primary schools and a church.

“I went to the farm in 2006 without exposing myself. We were in two vehicles,” Lutta said.

Among developments he revealed had come up in the farm over the years are a secondary school, two primary schools and a church.

He accuses the authorities of remaining silent even after the land, which he says he purchased from the Agricultural Development Corporation, was forcefully taken away from him.

Asked by the court how he survives now that he is retired, Lutta said: “I survive by the grace of God.”

The hearing continues.