BY JOACKIM KULE MUHESI
Land victims who have been encamped at the RDC’s courtyard in Kasese town have positively responded to the orders from the District Security Committee to vacate the place.
However, after leaving the place, they instead went and opened up a new camp at the district headquarters.
The incident comes nearly three weeks after the District Security Committee had issued an order to them to go back to their homes as they wait for the government to finalize the process of issuing land titles to them.
Today morning, the camp occupants who had earlier resisted to leave the place peacefully, exited after claiming that they had talks with the government leaders, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and the Inter-religious Council of Uganda – Kasese Branch.
Despite leaving the camp at the RDC’s Office, the land victims were moments later heard having opened up a fresh camp at the district headquarters in Rukoki.
Earlier, the Kasese RDC, Lt. Joe Walusimbi had told the press that he was happy that the land victims willingly left the camp without any force applied to them.
He revealed that at least two pieces of the land in question including Nkoko and Kabukero had been surveyed and their boundaries opened. According to him, they were only waiting for the issuance of land titles from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
He advised that the people should directly go to their respective homes but not the pieces of land that are yet to be officially given to them.
The RDC seriously warned the politicians against the act of using the plight of the land victims as an opportunity for them to gain political capacity, adding that they would use the law to deal with them.
The Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Bukonzo County, Lt. Maate Magwara, said the remaining pieces of land would be handled in a series since their ownerships do not have similar backgrounds.
According to him, pieces of land including Kirembe, Butsumba, Rwentutu, Kighenge among others are in courts of law only awaiting the implementation of court orders.
Speaking to the press while loading and demolishing their temporary, tents, the land victims, however, were sceptical whether government would fulfill its promise.
Mrs. Bisnasi Masika, a 54-year -old woman from Kitswamba sub-county and her fellows explained that they only accepted to leave after talks with the team of the Inter-religious Council of Uganda and Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, appealing to the government to expedite the process of issuing and titles.
Earlier in the morning, the Kasese District Chairperson, Eliphazi Muhindi Bukombi had condemned the manner in which security decided to evict the victims.
According to him, denying people the right to food and water was uncalled for given the fact that they were claiming for what belongs to them.
The District Political Head appealed to the victims to remain calm and peaceful as their leaders make follow-ups on the matter in the higher offices.
ENDS