Leaders petition CDF Muhoozi to end land grabbing in Bunyoro sub-region

Leaders in Bunyoro sub-region have petitioned the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to intervene and stop the increasing cases of land grabbing which have left many people landless.

During a thanksgiving ceremony for the appointment of Muhoozi as the CDF at Booma grounds in Hoima City on Friday, June 28, the leaders noted that land grabbing has become a trend in Bunyoro.

Harriet Businge, the Hoima district woman Member of Parliament said that many people in Bunyoro have been rendered landless by the land grabbers.

“We need the CDF to come in and help to save the situation. Many people are spending nights in the cold because they don’t have homes and their lands have been taken by the grabbers,” he said.

“Majority land grabbers disguise themselves in UPDF uniforms, hence scaring natives. This has made people homeless, hence developing negative attitudes toward the NRM and the president,” Businge noted.

Uthman Mugisha, the LCV chairperson for Hoima district said that some of the grabbers don army uniforms as one way of scaring the local people.

“Recently we arrested two UPDF soldiers who were involved in land grabbing in Hoima and many of them claim to be State House agents. We need sanity restored in Hoima and we have hopes that if Muhoozi intervenes our people will regain their lands,” Mugisha said.

They requested urgent intervention by the corruption fighter, CDF Gen. Kainerugaba, on these land grabbers.

The National Vice Chairman of Patriotic League Uganda (PLU), Chairman Nuwagira Michael Kaguta, aka Toyota, asked the people of Bunyoro to embrace modern agriculture to tap into the opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

“Bunyoro has the best roads in the country. The government has worked on most of them but people need to work hard by embracing modern agriculture to boost their income earnings,” he said.

He called for unity among PLU supporters, saying their mission is to ensure people love their country but also work hard to improve livelihood, especially the youth.

"I have had some opposition join us, we are welcoming everyone in PLU, we just want to have people love their country, but also avoid internal fighting. We are a peaceful group," he said.

Brian Kaboyo, the mayor of Hoima City noted that Bunyoro needs a public university because people need education for their natives so that locals can benefit from the skilled labour opportunities in the oil, airport, and stadium all under construction.

He appreciated Chairman Toyota for his resilience and hard work in promoting PLU and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.