Over 4,000 residents in Lwabyata Sub-county, Nakasongola District, are facing the looming threat of eviction from a five square mile public land. The areas most affected include Kikooge, Katuba, Kalaala, Wangoma, Kikuuta, and Ndaiga, where tensions have escalated due to land disputes and alleged intimidation tactics by landlords.
The situation has taken a toll on community institutions, with Kikooge R/C Primary School and Kikooge Health Centre II bearing the brunt of the encroachment. Portions of their land have been fenced off, and school gardens have been destroyed, exacerbating concerns about the safety and well-being of residents.
Chairpersons and local leaders have voiced their grievances, highlighting the actions of landlords like Mr. Jotham Mafende, whom they accuse of employing armed guards to intimidate residents and forcibly evict them from their homes. This has led to a climate of fear and insecurity, with parents withdrawing their children from school due to safety concerns.
The plight of residents extends beyond educational and healthcare facilities, as individuals like Mr. David Maiso Bakoba, a farm owner, have reported land encroachment and the loss of livestock and property. Despite efforts to seek legal redress, many residents have faced obstacles in processing their complaints, exacerbating their vulnerability to eviction.
District officials, led by Mr. Sam Kigula, the Nakasongola District chairperson, have attempted to address the crisis through the district security committee. However, their efforts have been hindered by the non-cooperation of Mr. Mafende, who has yet to appear before the district authorities.
Calls have been made for government intervention, with appeals for the rollout of the Land Fund to alleviate the plight of affected residents. District officials emphasize that a significant portion of the population are squatters on land owned by absentee landlords, exacerbating the complexity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Moses Kalega, a manager at Mr. Mafende’s farm, maintains that their boss possesses legal documentation supporting his ownership of the land. He asserts that individuals who fail to comply with negotiations will face forced eviction, further intensifying tensions between residents and landlords.
