URN.The district chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi says that the appreciation in the value of land amidst raising population is fueling the land wrangles between communities and the local government.
Local leaders in Kasese are asking government to find permanent solutions into the land conflicts in the district.
The leaders say that land conflicts in the district are threatening agriculture production and food security.Much of the land in Kasese is owned by government through national parks, Mubuku Prisons, Mubuku irrigation scheme and the water bodies.
Kasese currently has a population of over one million people and only 694,987 people are recorded by the population census carried out in 2014.
The district chairperson Eliphazi Muhindi says that the appreciation in the value of land amidst raising population is fueling the land wrangles between communities and the local government. The chairperson adds that currently the community is embroiled in conflict with Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA over demarcations majorly around the lake region.
Muhindi also says there are escalating conflicts between the local government and the community where the later were ordered to leave government land but opted to run to court contesting the directive and the matter have never been resolved.
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Muhindi is also concerned about the unresolved land conflict between the pastoralists and the farming community in Kabukero, Karusandara sub county. He said that since 2020 clashes between the two groups, there has not been lasting solution put forward by government.
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The chairperson also notes that there is a contested land dispute between the sisters of the catholic church and the local people settling on the land in Kikongo-Rughendara Town council. Bona fide occupants are contesting the renewal of the catholic church title and demanding for individual titles.
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The district chairperson is concerned that without answering the land questions, tensions between government, communities and other entities will purist hindering development.
The Kasese RDC Lt. Joe Walusimbi says local interventions to solve land conflicts have been frustrated by conflicting directives given to local leaders from various persons in government. He noted that he recently returned a number of directives issues on contested lands to the state house for guidance.
While in Kasese recently, the Minister of Land, Judith Nabakoba said the Ministry is planning to dispatch its team to follow up all stale land matters across the country.
