Tycoon fences off refugee camp
A Kampala-based businessman has fenced off about three square kilometers of Nakivale refugees’ resettlement camp in Isingiro district.
By Kyomuhendo Muhanga
A Kampala-based businessman has fenced off about three square kilometers of Nakivale refugees’ resettlement camp in Isingiro district.
Peter Bibangamba has also ordered the over 1,000 refugees in the camp to vacate the land.
The camp’s commandant, Lawrence Mugisa, said Bibangamba fenced off Juru “B†village, occupied by Rwandan and Burundian refugees.
“He came in stealthily and fenced off the land. The refugees caught within are stuck.
“They have to jump or pass under the barbed wires whenever they go out in search of water and food,†said Mugisa.
He explained that the fencing, which was done last month, had been opposed earlier in March.
“He first came around March but the refugees, under the cover of darkness, brought down the poles he had erected. He came back last month with a bigger work force.â€
Jean Pierre Niringiye, a refugee, lamented to The New Vision that the fencing had cut them off from food and water.
“We have been cut off from Lake Nakivale where we were drawing our water. Our children are starving.â€
When contacted on Monday, Bibangamba denied accusations of grabbing the land.
“I have not grabbed any land. I purchased the land from the Mbarara land board and I have titles.â€
Nakivale camp was initially in Mbarara district before Isingiro district was curved out of it.
However, Walter Omondi, an official of the Prime Minister’s office in-charge of refugees in western Uganda, accused Bibangamba of encroaching on the land meant for refugees.
“Everyone including the local leaders know the boundaries of the camp.
“Bibangamba claims he bought the land, let him name the persons who sold it to him,†asserted Omondi.
A Kampala-based businessman has fenced off about three square kilometers of Nakivale refugees’ resettlement camp in Isingiro district.
Peter Bibangamba has also ordered the over 1,000 refugees in the camp to vacate the land.
The camp’s commandant, Lawrence Mugisa, said Bibangamba fenced off Juru “B†village, occupied by Rwandan and Burundian refugees.
“He came in stealthily and fenced off the land. The refugees caught within are stuck.
“They have to jump or pass under the barbed wires whenever they go out in search of water and food,†said Mugisa.
He explained that the fencing, which was done last month, had been opposed earlier in March.
“He first came around March but the refugees, under the cover of darkness, brought down the poles he had erected. He came back last month with a bigger work force.â€
Jean Pierre Niringiye, a refugee, lamented to The New Vision that the fencing had cut them off from food and water.
“We have been cut off from Lake Nakivale where we were drawing our water. Our children are starving.â€
When contacted on Monday, Bibangamba denied accusations of grabbing the land.
“I have not grabbed any land. I purchased the land from the Mbarara land board and I have titles.â€
Nakivale camp was initially in Mbarara district before Isingiro district was curved out of it.
However, Walter Omondi, an official of the Prime Minister’s office in-charge of refugees in western Uganda, accused Bibangamba of encroaching on the land meant for refugees.
“Everyone including the local leaders know the boundaries of the camp.
“Bibangamba claims he bought the land, let him name the persons who sold it to him,†asserted Omondi.