Several residents are seeking government help after hundreds were evicted from Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties in Kigorobya county.

A number of houses were demolished during Sunday's eviction, while others were burnt and several people were injured. The residents were evicted from two titled pieces of land owned by tycoons based in Hoima district and Kampala.

One of the titles, which covers Kapapi and Kiganja and measures 2,545 acres (1,030 hectares), is owned by six people: Ndahura Gafayo, Astoni Muhwezi, David Mpora, Monica Rwashadika, Agaba H and Wilber Kiiza.

Another land title for a piece of land measuring about three square miles belongs to Hoima town-based businessman Moses Asiimwe Byagire. This title covers four villages, including Waki South, Waki North, Kapapi Central and Kiryateete in Kapapi.

A number of houses were demolished during Sunday's eviction, while others were burnt

Some of the evicted residents are camped now at Rwenyana Gospel Church in Kapapi sub-county, while others are living in the neighbouring villages.

Armed with guns and machetes

According to Joy Kabarokore, one of the evictees from the 1,030 hectares, their tormentors raided their villages at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.

She added that the group, whose number could not be established, was armed with guns and machetes; they forced them out of their houses using teargas. She says the armed men demolished houses and torched several others destroying property worth millions.

Kabarokore said during the attack, some people were beaten and injured while others were taken to a yet-to-be-identified place. She added that their domestic animals such as goats, sheep and poultry were taken during the scuffle.

Missing residents

Some of the missing residents are Mulega Eria, Sam Bataza, Edward Karongo, Steven Karongo, Steven Langila, Fred Nyagihi, Muneda Inosi and Moses Muzoora, among others.

“As we were sleeping, we heard fire on some of our grass-thatched houses. When we moved out of the house, we found the group outside. I tried to run for my life, but because I'm pregnant, I failed. and they started beating me as you can see from the bruises on my body. They destroyed our house and burnt our property, including our clothes, we are only having the clothes we moved with out of the house.”  

Shocked by ownership claims

Buruhani Isingoma, another affected resident, said he has lived on the land since 1992 and that he was shocked recently when the tycoons started claiming the land.

He said he is currently stranded with his family – he has nothing to feed them.

Accusations of rape

Another female resident, who preferred anonymity, said they were tortured and some women were allegedly raped by the men who conducted the eviction.

Joy Kabarokore, an expectant mother with other residents speaking to journalist

Steven Kamwine, another affected resident, cried out for government help saying they have been left with nothing to survive; they can no longer access their gardens after the eviction.

Kamwine said they have been living peacefully on the land, but trouble started when Aine Sodo allegedly picked interest in it.

Inhumane act

Kigorobya County Member of Parliament David Karubanga described the act as inhuman and barbaric.

He said some women reported to him how they had been raped and that he had urged them to go to health facilities for tests to confirm the allegations and seek medical aid.

He wondered why the eviction was conducted at night and that he had petitioned the lands ministry and the Office of the President seeking their intervention in the matter.

“Whether they are in your land illegally or legally, you are not supposed to burn their property. That is illegal," he said and asked relevant authorities to intervene and carry out an investigation into the matter to bring the culprits to book.

Leaders ignored

Hoima district councillor for Kapapi sub-county Chris Bahemurwaki also condemned the manner in which the residents were evicted.

He said that leaders were not informed about the eviction and also wondered why they carried out the eviction operation at night. He added that burning houses, destroying property and beating people was a violation of human rights.

Tycoons speaks out

Ndahura, one of the accused tycoons, said the residents were illegally occupying the land, adding that he acquired the title in 2008.

Recently, when they ordered squatters to leave the land, they refused, and he blamed the leaders for misleading them.

When asked if they had a court order to evict the resident, Ndahura said since security has been hunting for some of the residents for malicious damage, they (residents) burned and destroyed their houses to create a case against the landlords.

When asked if Aine Sodo is part of them, Ndahura confirmed that Sodo is a shareholder.

Byagire, another landlord, said he is the rightful owner of the land where the people were evicted. He stated that the evictees are herdsmen who hired the land to graze their cows, but when the time reached for them to leave, they refused.

He added that he surrendered about one square mile to the people who had settled on this land for many years and that those who were evicted have been renting the land from him.

RDC speaks out

Hoima deputy resident district commissioner Michael Kyakashari said the eviction was conducted by private security guards who were sanctioned from Kampala.

He added that no soldier or police officer was involved in the eviction as claimed by the public. He added that the private security guards were cleared by the Inspector General of Police.