HOIMA– Leaders in Hoima district have condemned the recent brutal eviction of over 1,000 people in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties in Kigorobya County, Hoima district, calling it an inhuman act that needs to be investigated by responsible authorities.
The violent eviction of residents left several houses demolished or burnt while several people were injured. The residents were evicted from two titled pieces of land purportedly owned by tycoons based in Hoima district and Kampala.
Six people, who include, Ndahura Gafayo, Aston Muhwezi, David Mpora, Monica Rwashadika, Agaba H, and Wilber Kiiza, purportedly own one of the land titles measuring 1,030 hectares that cover part of the Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties.
Another land title for a piece of land measuring about three square miles allegedly belongs to Moses Asiimwe Byagire, a businessman in Hoima town. The land title covers over four villages of Waki South, Waki North, Kapapi Central, and Kiryateete in Kapapi Sub-county.
Some of the evicted residents are now camped now at Rwenyana Gospel Church in Kapapi Sub-county while others are currently living in the neighbouring villages.
Joy Kabarokore, a pregnant mother of four and one of the evictees on the 1,030-hectare piece of land said their tormentors raided their villages on Sunday night at around 1:00 am armed with guns, machetes, and teargas.
She said domestic animals such as goats, sheep, and poultry were taken by the attackers accused of kidnapping some of the residents.
those said to be missing residents are Eria Mulega, Sam Bataza, Edward Karongo, Steven Karongo, Steven Langila, Fred Nyagihi, Inosi Muneda, and Moses Muzoora among others.
Buruhani Isingoma, another affected resident, said he has lived on the contested land since 1992. He said he was shocked when the tycoons recently started to claim the said land.
He noted he is currently stranded since his farm was destroyed by the attackers, leaving him without any food.
Steven Kamwine another resident called for government help, saying the attackers destroyed all their means of survival.
David Karubanga, the Kigorobya County Member of Parliament described the eviction of the affected residents as barbaric.
He wondered why the eviction of people was conducted at night. He said he had petitioned the lands ministry and Office of the President seeking their intervention in the matter.
“Whether people are living on in your land illegally or legally, you are not supposed to burn their properties. That is illegal,” he said.
Chris Bahemurwaki, the Hoima district councilor for Kapapi Sub-county also condemned the manner in which the residents were evicted.
However, Ndahura, one of the accused tycoons, said that the residents were illegally occupying the land, adding that he titled it in 2008.
He noted that the residents have been renting the land for years, and resisted the order to vacate. He blamed local leaders for misleading the affected residents.
Byagire another purported landlord said that he is the rightful owner of the land on which the evictees were living, saying they are herdsmen who had hired it from him to graze their cattle.
Michael Kyakashari, the Hoima deputy resident district commissioner confirmed the incident, adding that the eviction was conducted by private security guards who were sanctioned from Kampala.
https://thecooperator.news/more-than-1000-households-face-eviction-from-their-land-in-masindi/
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