100 Kassanda Land Victims Storm Land Probe

More than 100 members of Kiboga Twegatte Cooperative Society in Kassanda district on Tuesday stormed the commission of inquiry into land matters to petition the Commission to restrain Alam Group of Companies from evicting them from their land in Kassanda district.

They arrived aboard a FUSO truck registration number UBA 680 S which they said they hired to transport them to the Commission to voice their grievances.      

The group comprising of teenagers, women and men stood in silence outside the entrance of the National Archive Center as they waited for security screening. One by one, they were searched and subjected to precautionary disinfection of their hands using sanitizers before being ushered into a waiting tent that had been set in the compound to record their statement with a team of Commission investigators.      

The group says that some of their members were attacked while working in their crop fields and more than 6 people injured by armed soldiers deployed to guard sugarcane plantation belonging to an Indian Investor Abid Alam, the Executive Director of ALAM Group of Companies.    

They accused ALAM group of Companies of encroaching onto their land they procured with part of shillings 3 Billion given to them by government in Bukompe Village in Kassanda district.    

Yusuf Mwesigwa, 32, a member of the group says they have lost homes and properties in the eviction which began two week ago.     

//Cue in; “The government assisted us….     

Cue out…..that land is his”//      

It is the second time the residents are running to the Commission for help. In 2017, they lodged their complaint saying it had flared up after series of mediation with the management of the sugar estate.       

According to Mwesigwa, they are running to the Commission again to plead with its Commissioners to invoke restrain on the destruction of their homes and properties under the protection of the armed and violent soldiers.       

//Cue in; “In fact the destruction….       

Cue out…. the UPDF soldiers”//         

Ismael Bangisibaano, another member of the group says his seven-year-old son Ismael was injured while working in their crop field with other family members.       

//Cue in; “Isamel Aliku kitaanda…..     

Cue out…. bajituteekamo”//       

He says since demolition of their properties started, they have been spending their nights in bushes with children unable to go to school.       

Gardia Komugisha, 28 years old, says Police has not been helpful in protecting them as they get repeated orders to vacate the area.       

//Cue in; “Ffwe tetuniana….     

Cue out...obuyambi bwona….     

John Odit, the Assistant Lead Counsel of the Land Commission of Inquiry told URN that when petitioners show up in big numbers like that, the commission will assess their nature of complaint and prescribe the appropriate actions.    

   

The land in question is part of an estimated 240 hectares in the eyes of a bitter dispute dating back many years in Kassanda district.         

Earlier residents of the area told the land Commission of Inquiry that since it started in 2007, they have lost their livelihoods, human lives, properties which include places of worships, livestock, crops among others.     

   

Shortly after the dispute broke out in 2007, residents petitioned President Yoweri Musevei to intervene in the conflict as Alam Group of Companies commenced setting up the first section of the sugarcane plantation, now being expanded into neighbouring areas.