Mubende residents petition lands minister over eviction, harassment
Jul 20, 2009
OVER 10,000 residents of Kitumbi sub-county in Mubende district have petitioned the lands minister, Omara Atubo, to stop a private company from evicting them.
By Moses Mulondo
OVER 10,000 residents of Kitumbi sub-county in Mubende district have petitioned the lands minister, Omara Atubo, to stop a private company from evicting them.
The residents said tensions were high in the villages of Kyamukasa, Kyato, Kicucula, Kisiita, Mpologoma, and Kanaamire where armed groups are beating people, abducting them and destroying their crops and houses.
While handing the petition to Atubo in his office in Kampala yesterday, residents said the harassment was meant to subdue them to leave their land, which they have occupied for decades.
They explained that the land was allegedly bought by New Forest Company to plant trees.
“My banana plantation on three acres has been destroyed by the people who are trying to evict us. They even took 10 bags of maize from me,†Jessica Nyinamatama, a 56-year-old widow, who is taking care of nine orphans, said.
The LC3 land committee chairman, William Mpamira, informed Atubo that Kyamukasa and Mpologoma primary schools had been closed following the chaos. Over 700 pupils, Mpamira noted, had stopped going to school.
“Two of our neighbours were abducted by armed people who are trying to evict us,†Mpamira said.
“Richard Twahirwa was arrested on June 26 and Cyprian Munyagaju was arrested on July 13. Up to now, we don’t know their whereabouts.â€
He narrated that their tormentors attack at night and that most residents had resorted to sleeping in the bushes.
“Our land is not a forest reserve. Besides, we doubt whether the intention of the company is to plant trees and protect the environment,†Mpamira argued.
“Since 2005, they have been cutting down trees which we had preserved for commercial timber,†he narrated.
Responding to the petition, Atubo vowed to stop the investor from evicting the residents.
“As a ministry in charge of land, we are saddened by what has happened to you. It is important to respect your rights irrespective of whether you occupy the land legally or not. There is no need for your colleagues to disappear, your property to be stolen or crops to be destroyed,†Atubo said as the villagers applauded.
The minister said he would summon the resident district commissioner and the company officials to respond to the reports.
Atubo also promised to lead a team of investigators to Kitumbi on a fact-finding mission.
“This is an urgent case because it is about life and death. These acts against our citizens should stop immediately. Investment is only good if the residents benefit from it. Human beings are more important than trees,†he stated.
OVER 10,000 residents of Kitumbi sub-county in Mubende district have petitioned the lands minister, Omara Atubo, to stop a private company from evicting them.
The residents said tensions were high in the villages of Kyamukasa, Kyato, Kicucula, Kisiita, Mpologoma, and Kanaamire where armed groups are beating people, abducting them and destroying their crops and houses.
While handing the petition to Atubo in his office in Kampala yesterday, residents said the harassment was meant to subdue them to leave their land, which they have occupied for decades.
They explained that the land was allegedly bought by New Forest Company to plant trees.
“My banana plantation on three acres has been destroyed by the people who are trying to evict us. They even took 10 bags of maize from me,†Jessica Nyinamatama, a 56-year-old widow, who is taking care of nine orphans, said.
The LC3 land committee chairman, William Mpamira, informed Atubo that Kyamukasa and Mpologoma primary schools had been closed following the chaos. Over 700 pupils, Mpamira noted, had stopped going to school.
“Two of our neighbours were abducted by armed people who are trying to evict us,†Mpamira said.
“Richard Twahirwa was arrested on June 26 and Cyprian Munyagaju was arrested on July 13. Up to now, we don’t know their whereabouts.â€
He narrated that their tormentors attack at night and that most residents had resorted to sleeping in the bushes.
“Our land is not a forest reserve. Besides, we doubt whether the intention of the company is to plant trees and protect the environment,†Mpamira argued.
“Since 2005, they have been cutting down trees which we had preserved for commercial timber,†he narrated.
Responding to the petition, Atubo vowed to stop the investor from evicting the residents.
“As a ministry in charge of land, we are saddened by what has happened to you. It is important to respect your rights irrespective of whether you occupy the land legally or not. There is no need for your colleagues to disappear, your property to be stolen or crops to be destroyed,†Atubo said as the villagers applauded.
The minister said he would summon the resident district commissioner and the company officials to respond to the reports.
Atubo also promised to lead a team of investigators to Kitumbi on a fact-finding mission.
“This is an urgent case because it is about life and death. These acts against our citizens should stop immediately. Investment is only good if the residents benefit from it. Human beings are more important than trees,†he stated.