Bunyoro calls for migration guidelines
Jun 01, 2009
Bunyoro Kingdom wants the Government to formulate a migration and settlement policy to reduce the number of migrants into the kingdom.
By Ismael Kasooha
Bunyoro Kingdom wants the Government to formulate a migration and settlement policy to reduce the number of migrants into the kingdom.
The prime minister, Yabezi Kiiza, said the Government had failed to regulate resettlement in the kingdom, which was straining the limited resources.
“The population in Kibaale district is 550,000, with a growth rate of 5.2% per year, yet the country’s growth rate is 3.2%. This figure must be checked,†Kiiza said.
He added that residents were facing a food shortage. Kiiza was on Tuesday speaking at the handover of Isunga Health Centre III at Kyanaisoke sub-county in Kibaale district.
He said the problem started during colonial times when the British gave Buganda large chunks of land in Bunyoro. The British were rewarding the Baganda for supporting them during Omukama Kabalega’s resistance to colonial rule.
Kiiza said the Government started the Kagadi-Rutete Settlement Scheme in 1973, which saw the relocation of the Bakiga from Kigezi sub-region to Bunyoro.
He added that about 3,000 Bakiga, who were evicted from Mpokya in Kabarole district, also migrated to the Kisiita Resettlement Scheme. Kiiza said there were no rules governing the scheme, adding that the population of the district had doubled since the 1990s.
He said private property like royal tombs were being taken over by migrants because of the loopholes in the system. Kiiza assured the residents that the kingdom would not evict people, but wanted to safeguard its property.
Bunyoro Kingdom wants the Government to formulate a migration and settlement policy to reduce the number of migrants into the kingdom.
The prime minister, Yabezi Kiiza, said the Government had failed to regulate resettlement in the kingdom, which was straining the limited resources.
“The population in Kibaale district is 550,000, with a growth rate of 5.2% per year, yet the country’s growth rate is 3.2%. This figure must be checked,†Kiiza said.
He added that residents were facing a food shortage. Kiiza was on Tuesday speaking at the handover of Isunga Health Centre III at Kyanaisoke sub-county in Kibaale district.
He said the problem started during colonial times when the British gave Buganda large chunks of land in Bunyoro. The British were rewarding the Baganda for supporting them during Omukama Kabalega’s resistance to colonial rule.
Kiiza said the Government started the Kagadi-Rutete Settlement Scheme in 1973, which saw the relocation of the Bakiga from Kigezi sub-region to Bunyoro.
He added that about 3,000 Bakiga, who were evicted from Mpokya in Kabarole district, also migrated to the Kisiita Resettlement Scheme. Kiiza said there were no rules governing the scheme, adding that the population of the district had doubled since the 1990s.
He said private property like royal tombs were being taken over by migrants because of the loopholes in the system. Kiiza assured the residents that the kingdom would not evict people, but wanted to safeguard its property.