Overview:
The residents claim that approximately 1,500 acres traditionally used for grazing and settlement was leased out by the association without their consent, with an alleged long-term aim of dispossessing them of their ancestral land.
Residents of Kisongora cell, Busambu ward in Muhokya Town Council, Kasese District, have raised alarm over alleged grabbing and illegal use of community land by Banyakisongora Farmers’ Association-BFA.
The residents claim that approximately 1,500 acres traditionally used for grazing and settlement was leased out by the association without their consent, with an alleged long-term aim of dispossessing them of their ancestral land.
According to a section of the members of the community who also say they don’t subscribe to the association, they are surprised that BFA leadership has turned part of their land into a dumping site for human waste and extraction of murram, which is being excavated and sold without their consent.
Community members say these activities have not only degraded the environment but also deepened fears that the association’s intent to evict them from land they have occupied for many years.
Christopher Kazine, one of the resident says he doesn’t understand how the BFA came to existence to even start leasing out their land.
He adds that as concerned citizens they petitioned the office of the RDC and CAO to challenge the creation of the association and its operations but no interventions yet.
Sam Kusemererwa, says they have heard BFA leadership had secured a land title and yet he has been on the same land for more than 40 years now. He suspects that there is deliberate move by BFA to evict association non-members from their land.
Seith Katunda, accuses the BFA leadership acting without consulting all community members who are living on the area, noting that they don’t have terms and conditions regarding the operation of the association.
Residents are now asking the government and relevant authorities to urgently intervene before the situation escalates into open conflict.
Leonard Musabe, LC 1 Kisongora Cell who is also a member of the association, however disputes the allegations of landing grabbing, noting that the sale of murram from the land was a decision agreed upon by the leadership of the BFA on behalf of the community as a way of raising income for the group.
He adds that the association was registered following right procedures both at the town council and the district level to guarantee security to the community leaving on it.
Our efforts to get a comment from district leaders about this matter remain futile.
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