UGANDA, Hoima | Real Muloodi News | Over 500 residents of Hoima District have been denied access to their homes by armed men, despite an order from the Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, to resettle them on disputed land.
The residents, who are mainly pastoralists, were evicted on February 10 from the land that measures 2,545 acres and covers Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties, allegedly owned by Mr Gafayo Ndahura and six others.
They claim to have been living there since the 1960s and accuse the landlords of brutally evicting them and destroying their houses and properties.
Minister’s Order Disregarded
The minister had ordered district officials to resettle the residents while the government investigates the matter.
However, the residents say that they were blocked by security guards who are currently deployed on the land.
They are appealing to the government to intervene and settle the matter, as they fear for their lives.
Mr James Asiimwe, one of the affected residents, said, “The Minister of Lands directed that we should go back to our land, but our leaders have declined to implement the minister’s orders. We are now sleeping with our relatives because our houses were burnt.”
The Hoima Resident District Commissioner, Mr Rodger Mbabazi, declined to comment.
Landlord’s Response
Mr Ndahura said they are waiting for the courts of law to rule on the matter.
“It’s true some people should return to the land, but we refused them because they don’t own any piece of land. The minister was asked to put his directive into writing and she refused and the district security team had nowhere to start from. The minister has no power to make [declarations] people go back to the land, it is the court,” he said.
He added that they acquired the land title in 2008 and since 2010, the locals were renting it, but “in 2020, they refused to renew their tenancy agreement’’.
Mr Ndahura claims that they have a land tenancy agreement and documents where the locals have applied to renew their agreement, which they refused because they also wanted to start using their land.
“We started the process of acquiring the land title in 2004 and we got it in 2008. We have a land tenancy agreement and documents where they [locals] have applied to us to renew their agreement, which we refused because we also wanted to start using our land,” he said.
He further stated that from June to December last year, they were denied access to their land by tenants, and they reported cases of assault to the police.
“We reported cases of assault to police and some people have been arrested,’’ he added.
Mr Ndahura said he filed an intention to sue the Minister of Lands and the district security team.
Background
On February 10, locals were evicted from the disputed land in Hoima District.
The affected residents were evicted from the villages of Waaki North, Kapapi Central, Waaki South, and Kiryateteon in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties.
On February 22, Ms Nabakooba visited the disputed land and met with the affected residents at Rukola Primary School in Rukola Village, Kapapi Sub-county.
It was resolved that the eviction was rushed and wrongly done.
“The exercise of eviction was done illegally, there was no court order and it was at night, which means the exercise was illegal, and these people currently have nowhere to stay; they are just moving around. I have visited the area and realized that their plots can be identified. I have directed the security committee that these people return to the land,” Ms Nabakooba said.
The residents of Hoima District continue to face challenges despite the government’s efforts to resettle them on disputed land. The landlords claim that they own the land, and the matter is currently before the courts of law.
However, the residents fear for their lives and have nowhere to stay.
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