Over 300 veterans evicted from forest
Dec 05, 2010
A joint force of the UPDF and the Police on Thursday carried out an operation to evict over 300 veterans who had encroached on Kisombwa forest reserve in Kitenga sub-county, Mubende district.
By Luke Kagiri
A joint force of the UPDF and the Police on Thursday carried out an operation to evict over 300 veterans who had encroached on Kisombwa forest reserve in Kitenga sub-county, Mubende district.
Byron Oguzu of the Uganda National Forestry Authority said some of the veterans claimed to have acquired the forest land through State House. They said they had taken over the forest because the Government failed to pay them when they left the army.
On Thursday, a combined force of the Police and UPDF soldiers stormed the forest to evict the veterans.
“We found they had formed a camp in the middle of the forest with a quarter-guard, but when they heard us approaching, they escaped,†Enock Abaine, the district Police commander, said.
He said from the forest, the forces surrounded Kayebe and Kiveera town in Kitenga county and arrested over 100 veterans. They were screened and 12 of those who were part of the 300 that had escaped from the forest were detained
“We got information that these people were buying bows, arrows, spears and pangas to fight the Police if they went to evict them,†Abaine said. He added that 12 of those arrested were armed and were keeping the weapons in the towns near the forest.
Oguzu said the veterans were acquiring the land through Vincent Kamukama, who illegally sells an acre at sh60,000.
He said investigations into the matter were continuing and that all culprits would be hunted down and arrested.
A joint force of the UPDF and the Police on Thursday carried out an operation to evict over 300 veterans who had encroached on Kisombwa forest reserve in Kitenga sub-county, Mubende district.
Byron Oguzu of the Uganda National Forestry Authority said some of the veterans claimed to have acquired the forest land through State House. They said they had taken over the forest because the Government failed to pay them when they left the army.
On Thursday, a combined force of the Police and UPDF soldiers stormed the forest to evict the veterans.
“We found they had formed a camp in the middle of the forest with a quarter-guard, but when they heard us approaching, they escaped,†Enock Abaine, the district Police commander, said.
He said from the forest, the forces surrounded Kayebe and Kiveera town in Kitenga county and arrested over 100 veterans. They were screened and 12 of those who were part of the 300 that had escaped from the forest were detained
“We got information that these people were buying bows, arrows, spears and pangas to fight the Police if they went to evict them,†Abaine said. He added that 12 of those arrested were armed and were keeping the weapons in the towns near the forest.
Oguzu said the veterans were acquiring the land through Vincent Kamukama, who illegally sells an acre at sh60,000.
He said investigations into the matter were continuing and that all culprits would be hunted down and arrested.