The group of pastoralists in Kayanja village in Kitswamba sub-county, Kasese District, have blocked Kasese authorities from overseeing the opening of land boundaries on the disputed land in the village and neighboring areas.

According to the pastoralists, the documents the district authorities presented were questionable. They appealed to the Ministry of Lands to intervene in the land wrangle.  

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Lt. Joe Walusimbi, led a group of senior district officials to the disputed land in a bid to resolve the wrangle. Other officials included the Kasese District Chairman, Eriphaz Muhindi, the district surveyor, the Regional Police Commander (RPC), and District Internal Security Officer (DISO). However, the angry pastoralists did not allow them access to the disputed land, alongside a team to survey and open the boundaries.

Last month, the pastoralists in Kayanja I and Kayanja II villages, protested over a government decision to allow cultivators on the land. They have held several meetings with district leadership but no solution has been found. The Kayanja village chairperson, Nakunda Richard said that without the pastoralists getting the 3,500 acres that initially belonged to them; no one will access the disputed land.

The pastoralists appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene, claiming that the district leaders are siding with the cultivators. 

The LC3 Kitswamba Sub-county Chairperson, Yofesi Katenene said there is a need to urgently resolve the land wrangle before lives are lost like what happened in 2014.

He, however, urged the pastoralists to remain peaceful and not engage in violence because they could lose more.

The Kasese RDC, Lt. Joe Walusimbi while addressing the two parties before being blocked said none of the beneficiaries will be chased from their land

According to the Kasese district boss, Eriphaz Muhindi, the pastoralists were informed about the opening of Ngoko land boundaries.

He added that they have called a meeting of all the parties in the dispute to find a lasting solution to the wrangler but the boundaries will be opened by all means.