BY MICHAEL THEMBO MUHAYIRWA
The Chieftains Forum of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu has resettled a section of residents from Kirembe cell in the Central Division of Kasese Municipality who claim that they were illegally evicted from their 47 acres of land in the area.
For close to seven years, the said land which is customary has been in conflict between a section of residents and Western Importers and Distributors’ Company Limited with each party claiming ownership.
During the course of the conflict, several government agencies including the Directorate of Land Matters and State House tried to intervene into the matter and made its independent resolutions after carrying out a survey which indicated that the 47.67 acres of land in question are outside the leased land belonging to Western Importers and Distributors Company Limited and Nyakatonzi Growers Cooperative Union Limited.
On January 29, 2024, Chieftains Forum of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu invited the conflicting parties for a mediation meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kasese town and according to their report, the residents and Western Importers and Distributors Company Limited were represented.
Last evening, the Forum led by Mr. Uziah Kibingo Wanzabalere, the Chieftain for Kambasa Chiefdom in Kasese district and Mr. Benezeri Babara, the Chieftain for Buhira Chiefdom in Ntoroko district joined a team of residents and ordered them to officially re-occupy the land.
Mr. Nason Muhiwa, the Ridge leader for Kirembe who was entrusted with power to take over control of the land on behalf of the residents and ensure their safe stay, commended the Chieftains for helping the residents re-occupy their land.
Mr. Christopher Baluku, the General Secretary for Kirembe Cell, said he was happy that the affected residents would now get some relief but warned them against tempering with the leased land.
Ms Violet Kisoro and Mr. Misaki Kadenge could not hide the excitement over the exercise.
However, during the exercise, Western Importers and Distributors Company Limited, Nyakatonzi Growers Cooperative Union Limited and security were not represented at the site. ENDS