More than 300 families evicted Kijayo locals in Munteme Parish, Kiziranfumbi sub-county Kikuube district have for the third time petitioned President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni seeking land and compensation after living 8 years of untold suffering.

These were evicted by Hoima Sugar Ltd in 2014 to pave the way for sugarcane growing.

The evictees who have lived at Kijayo internally displaced People camp in the Kiziranfumbi sub-county in Kikuube district for the last 8 years initially settled the villages of Muziranduru, Kyabataka A & B, Kyakasoro, and Nyawante in Kiziranfumbi sub-county.

They allege that in 2002, the late Prince Herbert Rwakiswaza Kimera evicted them using a land title measuring 127 Hectares block 6 plot 6 Kitana growers cooperative in Kigorobya county after changing its initials with the late Rakiswaza as a proprietor with 1,557 hectares.

When the State minister for lands Dr. Sam Mayanja visited the camp, he directed that they should be restled and provided with relief.

Led by Stephen Buryahika, Omuhereza Mugisa, and Omuhereza Asaba, the evictees say that they have again written a petition seeking the intervention of president Yoweri Museveni after all efforts so far by the various government officials including state minister for Lands Dr. Sam Mayanja to have them resettled on their land have failed.

Apollo Alija, another evictee says that when the state minister for lands Dr. Sam Mayanja visited the IDP last year, he directed that they should be resettled, compensated, and given relief but nothing was done.

Alija has added that those who evicted them persuaded the minister that they had resettled them which is not the case.

Alija and others say that they have lived a miserable life, especially during the rainy season since 2014 when they were evicted to pave way for sugar cane growing.

Gorrete Tushemerirwe aged 75 and Janet Nyakato age 50 say that they are tired of living in a camp of internally displaced people because of the untold suffering for 8 years.

A few months ago, the Kikuube resident district commissioner Amlan Tumusiime said that they are working hand in hand with Hoima sugar ltd evicted them to see that the remaining unsettled evictees are resettled.

On 8th December 2021, Dr. Kenneth Omona, the principal private secretary to the president wrote to the attorney General and the ministry of lands to resolve the matter.

KATOTO