Buikwe Villagers Protest Arrests Amidst 640-Acre Land Dispute

Residents from three villages in Buikwe District, namely Lugala, Buyoba, and Muyiyibwe, converged at Lugazi Police Station on Monday. Their primary objective was to seek answers regarding the arrest of several community members amidst an escalating land dispute.

The conflict centers around a substantial 640-acre piece of land, with both Kiziba Estates Limited and Sir Henry Morgan & Associates Limited laying claim to its ownership. This ownership battle is currently being adjudicated in the High Court in Lugazi, which has issued interim orders to prevent any interference or evictions until a final determination is made.

However, the situation on the ground has become increasingly tense. The villagers allege that security personnel deployed to the disputed property have been intimidating them, restricting their movements, and even destroying crops. Over 2,000 residents now live in fear of being displaced from their homes, some of which have been occupied for decades.

Elderly residents, like 86-year-old Harriet Nakabugo, who has lived on the land since the 1990s, expressed deep anxiety about potential eviction. “At my age of 86, if they chase me from this land, where am I going to go?” she questioned, highlighting the human cost of the corporate land wrangle.

Other residents, such as Kenneth Musamali, described a pervasive sense of lockdown, with strict permissions required for basic activities like fetching water or farming. Allegations of physical beatings by security personnel for unauthorized activities on the land have also surfaced, fostering an atmosphere of fear.

While police confirmed holding 10 suspects found on the contested land, residents reported the number of arrests had reached 20, involving both police and army personnel. The villagers are pleading for government intervention to protect their homes and livelihoods while the legal proceedings continue.

Source: Nile Post