District chairman wants Hema out
May 18, 2003
The Bundibugyo district chairman, Jackson Bambalira, has warned the Government of an impending environmental and social disaster in the war-ravaged mountainous district if the Hema are not relocated to refugee camps elsewhere
By Frank Kibulya
The Bundibugyo district chairman, Jackson Bambalira, has warned the Government of an impending environmental and social disaster in the war-ravaged mountainous district if the Hema are not relocated to refugee camps elsewhere.
An estimated 8,000 ethnic Hema, fleeing from Lendu militias in the DRC have camped in Rwebisengo, Kanara and Karugutu sub-counties, bringing with them thousands of head of cattle and household property.
But Bambalira warned that the district had no capacity to host the fleeing Hema. He said the district lacked grazing land for the Hema cattle.
“The Government should relocate these people to refugee camps immediately. They have come with lots of animals. We have no free land to offer them. They are posing an environmental threat to the people of Rwebisengo and Kanara sub- counties,†he said.
He warned that shortage of pasture could fuel another ethnic conflict between the Hema refugees and the Batuku herdsmen in Rwebisengo.
“Tension is mounting between the refugees and the Batuku,†Bambalira said. The Rwebisengo LC3 chairman, Arthur Wamala, said by telephone his council had resolved that the Government removes the Hema and their animals ,†he said.
The Bundibugyo district chairman, Jackson Bambalira, has warned the Government of an impending environmental and social disaster in the war-ravaged mountainous district if the Hema are not relocated to refugee camps elsewhere.
An estimated 8,000 ethnic Hema, fleeing from Lendu militias in the DRC have camped in Rwebisengo, Kanara and Karugutu sub-counties, bringing with them thousands of head of cattle and household property.
But Bambalira warned that the district had no capacity to host the fleeing Hema. He said the district lacked grazing land for the Hema cattle.
“The Government should relocate these people to refugee camps immediately. They have come with lots of animals. We have no free land to offer them. They are posing an environmental threat to the people of Rwebisengo and Kanara sub- counties,†he said.
He warned that shortage of pasture could fuel another ethnic conflict between the Hema refugees and the Batuku herdsmen in Rwebisengo.
“Tension is mounting between the refugees and the Batuku,†Bambalira said. The Rwebisengo LC3 chairman, Arthur Wamala, said by telephone his council had resolved that the Government removes the Hema and their animals ,†he said.