UNHCR given ultimatum to relocate Nyakabande Camp

The Solicitor General has given United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) a two month ultimatum to relocate the Nyakabande Transit Camp to pave the way for the construction of John Kale Memorial Institute of Science and Technology.

This comes after the meeting among the residents and Government officials who were led Deputy Solicitor General, Christopher Gashirabake, and state lawyers on a mission to orient the people about the benefits of the institute to the Kisoro people and neighbouring places.

Gashirabake's response was also aimed at addressing residents' issues who claim that the land belongs to them. The locals sued but later Kisoro District Local Government opted for an out of court settlement.

According to Gashirabake, they will soon have another meeting so that Government evaluates reports concerning the surveying and compensation of the locals.

"People of Kisoro should receive this institute because other people are also in need of it" he said.

Asuman Rubega who represented the Ministry of Education, Sports and Technology, said President Yoweri Museveni desired to put a modern science university that will train the next generation of scientists who will spur innovation.

The Kisoro Residential District Commissioner, Hajji Shafiq Sekandi, requested the residents to respond positively by not demanding too much compensation from Government. He said the institute will be one Africa's model sources of science and technology courses.

The Kisoro district LC5 Abel Bizimana asked the residents to embrace this opportunity that the government has provided to them since it is not always there. He advised the residents to use the available chance before the new land bill is endorsed in Parliament.

Dr. Guwedeko, who represented Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura at the meeting, said the institute is named after John Kale due to his great contribution towards Uganda in the 1950s and 60s.

John Kale is also remembered for having worked hard towards development of skills to Ugandans with the spirit of pan-Africanism which was his core value to liberate Africans from colonization. Guwedeko said late Kale took more than 400 Ugandans to different countries to gain skills in a bid to work for development.

The Kisoro Chief Administrative Officer, Wilson Tibugyenda, said the district council recently proposed Nyakabande sub-county headquarters to be the area where the refugee camp should be relocated.