Forest reserve row leaves Masindi families at risk of eviction

________________

Leaders in Masindi Municipality have appealed for government intervention following the threatened eviction of residents from six cells, including Kisabau, Mirya, Kikonya, and Kyetegya, all located in Kigulya Division.

More than 1,000 residents are at risk of eviction from land they have occupied for decades, after a boundary demarcation exercise conducted by the National Forestry Authority (NFA) last week.

According to NFA claims, the contested land, situated around Kigulya Hill and estimated at over 100 acres, is reportedly part of the Kigulya Hill Forest Reserve.

During a meeting held on May 5, 2025, in Kisabau Cell, organised by the office of the resident district commissioner (RDC), local leaders called for urgent government action, stressing that the residents have nowhere else to go.

Milton Kutegeka, the LCIII Chairperson for Kigulya Division, revealed that some residents possess land titles issued by the Masindi District Local Government under the District Livelihood Support Programme.

He expressed concern that despite the existence of these titles, NFA had marked off the titled land as a forest reserve.

Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo, the municipal mayor, informed the RDC that many of the affected residents have lived on the disputed land for decades.

He added that some have purchased plots for development, while others have even buried their relatives on the same land.

Darius Nandinda, the Masindi RDC, assured residents that they would not be evicted. He promised to engage the NFA regional manager and organise a follow-up meeting with the affected residents within two weeks.

Kigulya Hill Forest Reserve covers an area of 4.11 square kilometres.