A section of occupants on Kabirizi Murukoro land in Rubanda Town Council, Rubanda West, say they are being sidelined in the compensation process ahead of the district’s planned iron ore factory.
The occupants, under their group Nyarurambi-Nyakabungo Bahingi/Barisa Kweterana, gathered today at Murukoro land to voice their grievances. They said the land was given to them by their ancestors and expressed dissatisfaction with Barisa’s claim of ownership.
The group said they have been grazing animals and cultivating the land since childhood, making it their main source of livelihood.
Led by their chairperson, Nowugabe Moses Manaku, together with Sunday Banabus, Vicente Bwiruka, Priscilla Mukamaagaba Nyakusinga, and Eduridah Twesigaomwe, the occupants accused local leaders of favoring outsiders from Karengyere, Nfasha, Hamurwa, and other areas, while excluding the actual land users and neighboring residents from the compensation process.
Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson, Ampeire Stephen Kasyaba, told Eye Television that the aggrieved locals should join the already established groups involved in the compensation process.
He said taking the matter to social media would not help and described it as a waste of time. Kasyaba added that being a neighbor to the land does not automatically mean ownership, and challenged the group to formally join other members in the ongoing process.
He further emphasized that the planned iron ore factory is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs in the area.
