Three Injured in Nakasongola Land Attacks

Three people were injured and two houses were burnt in Nakasongola District on Saturday following a meeting convened by the State Minister of Lands with people who settled on Kyarubanga Forest reserve.

In December 2019 President Yoweri Museveni ordered the degazettement of Kyarubanga Forest reserve in Nakasongola district to settle landless households. At least 400 households were already occupying part of the land that belonged to the government.

The eight-square-mile forest reserve stretches to four sub-counties including Wabinyonyi, Lwabiyata, Lwampanga, and Nabiswera.

Before the degazettment process is done, the district authorities backed by Public Service Minister Muruli Mukasa also resettled over 1,000 people evicted from Kasagala Forest Reserve and others displaced by Lake Kyoga floods to the land.

This however created tension between the old and new settlers on the land.

On Thursday, Lands State Minister Sam Mayanja on invitation Budyebo County Member of Parliament Bernard Kirya met some of the settlers and district leaders at Nakayonza trading center in Lwabiyata sub-county to address the matter.

Mayanja explained that President Museveni's directive was clear that the land be given to households that were already occupying it but not resettling new occupants.

Mayanja ordered the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate district authorities over allegations that they had sold part of the land to new people and forcefully grabbed it from old occupants.

He also faulted fellow Muruli for conniving with district officials to grab people’s land and give it to new settlers.

Following the minister's remarks, on Saturday old settlers attacked new occupants to force them off the land.

During the attack, three people were injured and two houses were burnt as the old settlers forcefully evicted them from the land. Scores of other new occupants at Isegero village have since fled over fears for their lives.

The injured have been identified as Sam Yeheyo, Joseph Mugisha, and Steven Muruki all residents of Kibuye village in Wabinyonyi sub-county.

Sam Yeheyo a new settler explains that six men armed with sticks attacked his home at around 8 pm on Saturday and ordered him to vacate the land quoting Minister Mayanja’s remarks.

Yeheyo adds that when he protested, the men beat him up which attracted the attention of his friends to come to repel the attack.

It's reported the attackers went ahead and burnt two houses to force the new settlers to vacate the land.

Saleh Kamba, the Nakasongola Resident District Commissioner confirmed the attacks and said that Policemen have been deployed in spot areas to avert more clashes.

Kamba has also called an emergency District Security Committee meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss the matter.

Sam Twineamazima the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson said he would release a statement on the matter later in the day.

Sam Kigula, the LCV Chairperson Nakasongola blamed Mayanja for convening the meeting without consultation on the matter and making what he termed as reckless statements that have escalated tensions.

Kigula explains that the district leadership together with area Members of Parliament resolved to resettle new people on the forest reserve since they had nowhere to go after they were displaced by floods and evictions from another forest reserve.

Kigula says that he tried to explain this to Minister Mayanja during the meeting but he ignored it and ordered old settlers to reclaim the land that was given to new occupants.

"We had also established a committee to investigate complaints following the resettlement of new people and ensure the two groups co-exist. It is unfortunate that the Minister did not seek information on the matter but went ahead to incite old settlers" Kigula said.