By Johnson Kanyesige
Security officers together with the Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs and other local leaders have on Wednesday evening met with the evicted residents on the disputed pieces of land in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties in Hoima district.
The meeting attended by different security officers, the Minister of State for Bunyoro, Janepher Namuyangu Kacha, the area Member of Parliament David Karubanga and security officers among others was meant to get to the bottom of the ongoing land wrangles in the area and assess the level of damage inflicted on the affected residents and also devise the lasting solutions to the issues.
The residents were evicted on Saturday by unknown people who left several houses demolished and others burnt while several people were injured.
However, it has emerged that on February 8, 2023, the Minister of State for Lands Sam Mayanja wrote to the Hoima RDC directing him to give security to the occupants of the bibanja holders as per article 237 (8) of the constitution.
The minister also directed the RDC to implement the presidential directive of February 23m 2013 and February 28, 2022 which prohibit evictions and provide for arrest of those causing and helping those evicted to be returned to their bibanja.
The directive followed a petition to the minister by Enock Kamugisha, David Kanyiriho, Kalebu Mwine, Edson Mbabazi and Steven Mbombo who claimed to be true owners of a piece of land situated on Plot 9, block one Bugahya at Kigorobya in Hoima District.
The petitioners alleged that unknown people obtained a freehold land title without their knowledge and consent.
Surprisingly, the eviction was conducted on February 11, 2023 days after the minister had issued the directives.
Last evening, the Kigorobya County Member of Parliament David Karubanga is said to have been arrested over conducting a night meeting with over 20 affected persons. Karubanga is said to have arrived late at the meeting which started at 8pm. He was later released from police at around1am at night after several leaders’ intervention.
