Editor
Residents in the Ruhinda Sub County of Rukungiri district, particularly in the Parishes of Kicwamba, Burombe, Ndere, and Rwamugoma, along with local leaders, are planning to stage demonstrations and initiate a legal case against the Rukungiri local government. Their grievances stem from what they perceive as an unjust eviction from their ancestral land to facilitate the restoration of wetlands.
Last week, environmental law enforcement agents, accompanied by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and police officers, forcibly entered Ruhinda Sub County’s wetlands to expel encroachers. Armed with guns, hoes, sticks, and machetes, the officials implemented an order resulting in the destruction of buildings and numerous acres of crops, including banana plantations, sugarcane, beans, maize, and yams.
Accusing Ruhinda Sub County Chairperson Mrs. Hellen Kabajungu and GISO Mr. Bindeeba Moses of directing authorities to unlawfully mark stones on their land and destroy crops, affected residents claim collusion among local authorities. The inconsistent actions of these officials raise suspicions of a coordinated effort to seize their land.
Residents, including Fred Kyandoho, Caleb Vicent, and Barireryo Lucira from Kabale village in Rwamugoma Parish, expressed their distress, stating that their livelihoods were disrupted despite having lived on the contested land for over fifty years. They are now calling on President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene, fearing a food shortage that could lead to starvation.
Threatening legal action against Rukungiri authorities for the alleged unlawful evictions, individuals such as Enid Kyabishiki, Adrine Gariyo, Befaho Godwin, and Bitrice Kahondo emphasize their long-standing connection to the land. They argue that the lack of transparency during the property surveying process and inadequate information about the project’s purpose contributed to the confusion and resentment among the affected community.
Turyabarema Daniel, an elder from Kabale village, expressed confusion and concern after being forced off the land he inherited from his parents. He highlighted the growing tensions in the community due to the fear of land grabs and the government’s failure to communicate effectively with the residents.
Rukungiri Deputy Resident District Commissioner Ahimbisibwe Wilberforce Ongom justified the actions, stating that they are following the presidential directive to restore wetlands invaded by humans. Ongom claimed that sufficient sensitization and warnings were provided, but the encroachers failed to comply, prompting the intervention of district leaders.
In the previous month, President Museveni warned Sub-County Chiefs and Resident District Commissioners for not implementing directives to evict wetland encroachers. He emphasized the need for unconditional eviction, blaming previous governments for misleading individuals who encroached on wetlands. Museveni exempted existing factories built by investors nationwide but issued a warning to new factories against building in wetlands.
