Land conflicts rise as floods displace over 2,000 households in Kibaale

FLOODS | LAND CONFLICTS 

KIBAALE- As the flooding of Lake Albert increases, more people are being left homeless, which has resulted in land conflicts.

At Kitebere landing site in Ndaiga sub-county, Kibaale district, which is deemed a bit safe, hundreds of people are flocking the area to seek shelter and they have erected structures on what is termed as communal land.

This has, however, not gone down well with some individuals.

The Ndaiga sub-county LCIII chairperson, Oscar Chunyai, said they have embarked on an exercise to distribute land to the displaced persons so that they can construct houses in a safer place.

This will also help reduce congestion in the existing houses and prevent disease outbreak.

Ndaiga sub-county has a population of 14,730 and at least 6,000 people are affected by the floods, which seem to be increasing by the day.

Chunyai said since the water levels began increasing in April, no government agency has come to their aid and people are suffering.

He said the land distribution exercise had been hindered by some self-seekers who do not want people to be allocated plots.

Chunyai also cited one person identified as Paul Bagonza, who has disrupted the exercise claiming that the land should be reserved for development projects.

"We are the elected leaders of this Alipakusadi Mugoya

area and we know what developments are supposed to be in each location. We cannot leave people to suffer when communal land is available to resettle them," Chunyai said.

He said in 2001, facilities such as the school, health centre and Police were allocated land and they reserved communal land for any eventualities.

Chunyai said nobody should dictate what should be done on the reserved land.

Musa Omonyi, the Ndaiga sub-county area land committee chairperson, said they have distributed plots of land at all landing sites such as Kabukanga, Kamina, Nyamasoga and there were no complaints.

He wondered why an individual can attempt to disrupt a noble exercise.

"We have allocated pieces of land to all those affected by the floods and each person was given 50x100ft plots," Omonyi said.

He said as area land committee chairperson, he does not know anyone claiming ownership of the communal land where the displaced are being allocated plots.

 opposed 

Bagonza said the land was set aside for government development programmes and giving it out to people may affect development.

The affected persons, however, were seen jubilating after the LCIII chairperson together with other local leaders ordered that people start erecting houses on the plots allocated to them.

Sulait Mutabazi, 76 and resident of Nyamasoga landing site, said his entire house was submerged and even the area where he shifted to is also affected.

Harriet Bedijo, a single mother, said her house, including their graveyard, were submerged and they are temporarily seeking shelter at a church.

She added that fending for the family has become increasingly difficult and appealed to the Government to come to their rescue.

Afumusa Baraho, in her 90s, said her house was swept away by water yet she is looking after grandchildren all below the age of 15.