________________

Residents and leaders of Kiryandongo are trading accusations over the rampant land grabbing in the district.

The residents are accusing their leaders of aiding land grabbing and failing to protect the people from being marginalised by the investors.

The residents expressed their disappointment with the leaders during the dialogue between the leaders and the residents on land rights and environment, which was organised by Witness Radio on Thursday at Kiryandongo district headquarters.

Joseph Walikura, the representative of the evictees from different ranches, told the meeting that there's no leader at the district who is interested in protecting the people's land rights at all, adding that this is because most of them are compromised.

"Millions have exchanged hands here in Kiryandongo among our leaders at the cost of the ordinary persons but the challenge comes from the poor management of land systems by the leaders and the technocrats," he said.

He added that both the leaders, security and the technocrats connive with the leaders, harass the affected people and also arrest them, adding that apparently they have no option but to suffer.

Walikura added that over 40,000 homesteads have been evicted from different ranches in the district noting that food is also reducing because the ordinary persons has not been protected to do production.

"Since 2017, people are being evicted on the watch of leaders. If this trend continues for the next 10 years, the impact is going to be disastrous. What disappoints me is the leaders are using the advantage of people's ignorance on the land rights," a furious Walikura added.

He said the conditions the evictees are living in are worrying, adding that some are living in the neighbourhood, others are with relatives and friends.

Joseph Walikura, the representative of the evictees from different ranches. (Photo by Yosam Gucwaki)

Pastor Job Olara, a resident of Kiryandongo, accused the leaders of failing to play their role of defending the ordinary from losing their property.

"Most of our office-bearers have issues, they are corrupt, compromised and also cowards to speak up about land issues. It's the leaders responsibility to defend people's land from being taken but here it's the opposite," Olara said.

Caroline Nyamaizi, another resident and also a speaker at Kiryandongo town council, blamed courts of law in the district for not helping the poor saying that courts normally side with the rich and leave out the poor.

"Even if you have proof of ownership of the land but you are poor, the court can't rule in your favour," she said.

She also faulted the district leaders and the technocrats for always championing their own interests forgetting the ordinary person.

The residents also said that land conflicts have been escalated by the issue of ignoring the LC1 chairpersons who know better the land issues within their area of jurisdiction.

Residents faulted

However, responding to the residents' concerns, district physical planner Doreen Chandia faulted them of failing to distinguish between public and customary land.

"People go and settle on public land and when it is allocated to the investors by the Uganda Land Commission (ULC), the blame is shifted to the district leaders and yet they are innocent," he said.

David Kyategeka, the secretary to the land board, said they are facing a challenge of the people who buy land and leave it idle, which tempts people to encroach on it thinking that it is free.

"People should understand that there's no free land anywhere. We would be doing our work to sensitise the people on their land rights but we have a meagre budget to do so. We have no budget for sensitisation and we also have no enough money to independently do our work. Sometimes we the members of the land committees are facilitated by the applicant which is not a good practice," he said.

Responding to the issues, Kiryandongo district LC5 chairperson Edith Aliguma dismissed the accusations against the leaders and the technocrats saying that the residents are dishonest.

"Most of the people who are complaining were evicted from ranches which are on government land. When ULC issued it out to the investors like Kiryandongo Sugar Ltd, Agiles Partners and Great Seasons, among others, they had to occupy it. We engaged these investors and told them to compensate the affected people which they did. The problem is when they're compensated, they go to settle in other ranches hence escalating the problem," she explained.

She added that commissions, ministers and other human right defenders have come on ground and ascertained the truth.

"I want to advise you to stop settling on public land, especially the ranches. You will be wasting your time. It's unfair to say that money is exchanging hands when you have no evidence. We have done our best to ensure that at least you are compensated. Come out with evidence and pin the people who have eaten the money at your cost. Sensitisation of the people on issues pertaining land rights need to be intensified," Aliganyira said.

Historical injustices

Kiryandongo deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Jonathan Akweteireho, said the land question in Bunyoro region needs to be handled with extra care, adding that most of the challenges are accruing from the historical injustices caused by the colonialists.

"As partners are addressing the land issues in this region, they should also look into those injustices. Other than sensitising the people on the land rights, they should bear in mind that historical injustices should be resolved. Ranches were established but later opened for settlement and people were not given titles. That's where the problem is coming from," he said.

He also noted that all offices are engaged in resolving the increasing challenges, adding that they are overwhelmed.

He also underscored the need for the creating awareness on how people can get the letters of administration something he said is being a challenge.

Akweteireho also said that squatters are also becoming a problem since they're also grabbing land.

"Because of politicians giving wrong information to squatters they have also gained a lot of impunity. Once the squatter is on the land he can't leave. They should also be sensitised to understand the land rights," he added.

Geoffrey Ssebagala Wokulira, the country director Witness Radio, said the dialogue was as a result of political and social issues pertaining to management and administration of land in Bunyoro that have been documented over the past years.

"Kiryandongo is one of the hotspots for land grabbers. It has a lot of ranches but lacks a structured framework hence escalating land conflicts. Most people have no certificates of ownership. We are seeing a lot of investors who are coming with a lot of money. Our objective is to find a holistic solution. The district has to come up with a by-law on evictions which we shall support," he said.