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KIKUUBE - Nyairongo village LC1 chairperson in Kabwoya sub-county, Kikuube district has been detained at Kikuube Police Station for allegedly inciting violence.

Desire Nkuluzinza, 35, according to Abletine Police region spokesperson Julius Hakiiza, was arrested by soldiers who were deployed to guard Hoima Sugar land.

Hakiza on Monday said Nkuluzinza was arrested on Sunday over mobilising farmers to go and cultivate Hoima Sugar land without permission.

Reports indicate that as a result, several people have already entered the forest cultivating and harvesting maize in the contested land.

Nkuluzinza's arrest follows several complaints from farmers that they had been denied a chance to harvest their crops on Hoima Sugar land.

Over 200 farmers are said to have planted crops, including maize, beans and sorghum on 4,370 acres which are claimed to be part Hoima Sugar land.

According to the farmers, they paid Money to the managers of the land who allowed them to plant their crops on the land and are wondering why they have been denied to harvest their crops.

Accusations

Speaking to the media on Monday, Hakiiza added that Nkuluzinza recorded voice notes and circulated them calling people to invade the land and harvest their crops.

He added that Nkuluzinza is currently detained at Kikuube Police Station and he is going to appear in court soon to answer charges of trespass and inciting violence.

He added that Police have started investigating other people who illegally encroached on the land and started utilising it.

About the land

The 22.4 square miles in question were leased for 99 years to Hoima Sugar Ltd by Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in 2017 to grow sugarcane.

National Forestry Authority NFA dragged Hoima Sugar Ltd to court challenging the occupancy claiming that the land was part of Bugoma Forest Reserve. However, on April 25, 2019, the High Court in Masindi ruled that Hoima Sugar was the rightful occupant of the 22 square miles.

This ruling attracted massive protests from residents and environmental activists across the globe that included European Union (EU) Ambassadors.

Such protests forced the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to deny Hoima Sugar Company Ltd 13 square miles and allowed it only nine square miles out of the 21 square miles, which NEMA deemed fit for human activity since it was grassland (no forest cover).

However, some residents say Hoima Sugar is taking part of their land since no one knows the boundary of this kingdom land and they have been demanding for boundary opening to where Hoima Sugar land starts and ends, in vain.