BY JOACKIM KULE MUHESI
A section of cultivators from Kabukero village in Karusandara sub-county today stormed the office of the Kasese Resident District Commissioner demanding for a permanent to the land conflicts existing between them and the pastoralists in the area.
They demanded government to officially handover 596.2 acres of land to them, arguing that it had been demarcated from the prisons’ land.
According to them, the pastoralists own 3,940 acres of land that was given to them by government while the prisons remain with 749 acres.
The cultivators were seen with placards written on, “We Want Justice, Government Help the Poor Cultivators and Government of Uganda Have in Mind the Cultivators in Kasese District.”
Mr. Herizon Muthende, the Youth Chairperson for Kabukero village who was among the people who stormed the RDC’s Office, noted that since 2007, they have been fighting over the same land and government has not taken conclusive steps to resolve their issues.
Ziresi Biira, another farmer in the area told the press that government sent a team of surveyors who worked closely with the private ones and demarcated their piece of land, saying she is surprised that nothing positive has been realized.
Mr. John Bahebwa, the Chairperson for the cultivators in the area, says whenever they intend to utilize their demarcated piece of land, the pastoralists frustrate them.
He told the RDC that they were ready to occupy the land forcefully since they had waited for a peaceful handover in vain.
Kabukero Local Council I Chairperson, Mr. Zalia Njiima, revealed that there was evidence that both the cultivators and the pastoralists own land that was given to them by government that they have never been allowed to utilize theirs for cultivation.
In his response, the Kasese RDC, Lt. Joe Walusimbi called for calmness among the cultivators.
He told the cultivators that the President that constituted a committee to handle the issue and wondered why they had declined to complete the process.
He assured them that in a period of two days, he will have given them feedback through their leaders after making consultations from the higher offices in Kampala.
ENDS