Our reporter visited the area on Tuesday morning found several UPDF soldiers and police officers on the contested piece of land. It is alleged that Uganda Investment Authority-UIA bought the contested land from Bunyoro Grower’s Union in 2005.
More
than 2000 people from Kimengo Sub County in Masindi district are facing
eviction from land belonging to Uganda Investment Authority-UIA. The affected
are residents of Bungucoda, Nyakarongo, Kiryana, Ijwamba and Kokoitwa villages.
A team of police
officers backed by Uganda Peoples Defense Force-UPDF
soldiers stormed the villages on Saturday last week under the command of
Masindi Resident District Commissioner-RDC, Godfrey Nyakahuma and asked the
residents to vacate the land within hours.
They allegedly demolished resident’s homes,
destroyed crops like maize, banana plantations and beans among others. Some of
the residents had occupied the contested land measuring approximately 60 square
miles for over 15 years.
Our
reporter visited the area on Tuesday morning found several UPDF soldiers and
police officers on the contested piece of land. It is alleged that Uganda
Investment Authority-UIA bought the contested land from Bunyoro Grower’s Union
in 2005.
It later leased out the land to four companies
including Mena food Limited, Soul Agro business, Critical mass limited and Afro
CAI Company limited for redevelopment. However, some of the affected had
settled on the land before Bunyoro Grower’s Union sold it to Uganda Investment
Authority in 2005.
Last week, Afro CAI Company limited and Soul Agro business
delivered poles to fence off the land for redevelopment drawing protests from
residents. This attracted the attention of Masindi District Security Committee
led by the RDC.
They
rushed to the area to calm down the situation. 18 residents whose
identities have been concealed for fear of jeopardizing police investigations
were apprehended and whisked off to Masindi Central Police Station where they
are still locked up.
Justine
Tushabe, one of the residents facing the forceful eviction faults the RDC for
the brutal eviction, saying there was need to engage them.
//Cue
in:”Nyokuya RDC ya…
Cue out:…Mitima Habwa RDC.”//.
Florence Nabukenya, another affected resident says
they are stranded given the violent and brutal eviction they are facing. She
says their children cannot access school given the heavy deployment on what she
calls their land.
//cue in:”Ogenda Kuteka ebintu…
Cue out:…Batugobaganya Nga mbwa.”//.
Isa Mugoya, another resident says most people
operating businesses in the area acquired loans from banks and may fail to pay
back because of the violent eviction.
//Cue
in:”Natugamba Etaka linu…
Cue out:…Kugamba si tukoleki.”//.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the Masindi District LC V
Chairperson condemned the brutal eviction and arrest of the residents by
security operatives, saying dialogue is the best way to go.
He says residents
who were occupying the land before Uganda Investment Authority bought it in 2005
should have been compensated before they are evicted.
//Cue in: ”Well the people…
Cue out:…last fifteen years.”//.
Godfrey Nyakahuma, the Masindi RDC says he acted
on the instructions of Finance Minister; Matia Kasaija who asked him to give
the occupants seven days to vacate the land for redevelopment by investors.
//Cue in: ”Last week we…
Cue out:…Set them ablaze.”//.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police
spokesperson, says those in custody will be charged with malicious damage and
criminal trespass.
//Cue in: ”We arrested Eighteen…
Cue out:…had to deploy.”//.
Uganda Investment Authority hasn’t yet commented
as it couldn’t be reached by them time of filing this story.
