More than 1,000 residents who were evicted from their ancestral land in Kyangwali sub-county in Kikuube are yet to be resettled.
The residents have for the last two months pitched camp at the offices of the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner-RDC demanding their immediate resettlement on their land.
They were evicted from Bukinda A and B, Bukinda 2, Kavule, Bwizibwera A and B, Kyeya A and B, Nyaruhanga, Kabirizi, Nyamigisa A and B and Katoma villages among others in Kasonga parish, Kyangwali sub-county. The residents are feuding with Kyangwali Refugee Settlement centre over 36 square kilometers of land.
In September 2013, OPM officials, the police, and UPDF evicted more than 60,000 people from the contested land and resettled Congolese refugees on the land. The residents were forced to settle in camps in Kyeya village in Kyangwali sub-county under very poor conditions where they have stayed to date.
In 2018, President Museveni ordered that the evicted residents be resettled on their land and directed the Office of the Prime Minister and that of Disaster to spearhead the move but to date, nothing has been done.
Alice Nyinarukundo,60 says that they are undergoing suffering despite the presidential directive to have them resettled on their land.
Fred Bwambale, another affected person wants the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees Hillary Onek to explain why the resettlement has been delayed.
John Ankampulira says that the untold suffering they are experiencing is due to delays to resettle them on their land.
Nestory Tumwesige, the Kyagwali Sub County LCV Councilor says food relief that was meant for the displaced residents was diverted to the Kyangwali refugee settlement, leaving residents starving.
However, Onek insists that the government genuinely acquired the land. He said that if the evictees are not contented, they should go to court and challenge the government. According to Onek, some people acquired fake land titles.
Last month, declined to meet the evicted residents after he received information that the evicted residents were mobilized to undress before him and also attack him should he appear before them.
The minister accused two members of Parliament of hatching the plot to assault him while performing his duties to seek a solution and build peace in the area.
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