Obongi, Uganda: Over 800 people have been evicted from Oyakamaumi landing site in Andra village in Ubi Parish in Palorinya sub-county, Obongi district, for illegally settling on the landing site. The eviction was carried out by a team of Obongi district leaders currently demarcating wetlands and buffer zones in fulfillment of H.E the President of Uganda’s executive order No.3.
The district team, led by the RDC Obongi Mr. Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, the district environment officer Mr. Onzima Henry Pastore, district staff surveyor Nyadru Ceaasr, and district physical planner Dratu Hamid, were shocked to find over 800 people, including children, illegally settled on the landing site without sanitary facilities like toilets and staying in temporary structures.
It was discovered that over 800 people were urinating and defecating in the River Nile, where they, in turn, bathed and fetched water for cooking and drinking. The majority of these individuals are children from various districts in the West Nile sub-region.
During a meeting with the illegal settlers, they admitted to illegally settling there and agreed to vacate with immediate effect but requested to be given until March 15, 2024. However, it was resolved that the vacation would start immediately due to the lack of toilets and other essential services for the people.
It was also revealed that the landing site is being used by criminals who hide there after committing several offenses from various locations, using it as their hideouts.
