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Some of the residents that face eviction
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Over 2,100 families in the parishes of Kigorani, Migongwe, Mujwambura, and Kisoira in Kyenjojo and parts of Kyegegwa are living in fear of eviction. This was revealed by Julius Tumukunde, the Migongwe sub-county chairperson in Kyegegwa, during a meeting with Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba in Bulingo village, Migongwe, today. "In some of these areas, residents went to court, but the ruling was not in our favor, which left us in fear of eviction," Tumukunde said.
He revealed that in Kigorani alone, a lady identified as Dorothy Mwirumubi Baguma conducted a boundary opening on their land, and the survey report produced overlapping plots. The land was formerly registered in the name of a cooperative society known as Mawino, which she owned with her late husband, Crescent Mwirumubi Baguma, but was later transferred into her name. "She used the land title as collateral to acquire a bank loan, yet the land hosts about 2,000 households in Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo," Tumukunde alleged.
He stated that despite convening a meeting in 2022 with the owner of the land title (Dorothy) and agreeing to cancel the title or correct the errors, nothing was done. Migongwe is another area with a land dispute between locals and the National Forestry Authority (NFA), affecting 90 homes in Kyakabamba and Kijaara villages. The land dispute started in 2013, with the involved parties going to court, where the judgment was issued after five years. The magistrate court ruled in favor of the majority of people, but NFA proceeded with the matter to the Court of Appeal.
"Court had ordered NFA to compensate residents, which was partly done (40%). Complainants were told to go back and use their land," Tumukunde said. He added that they were, however, surprised that NFA was later declared the winner in the Court of Appeal even before paying the remaining 60%. "This ruling was challenged by residents in the Supreme Court, but surprisingly before making a final ruling, NFA keeps on coming and taking people’s properties," he told Nabakooba. Tumukunde also claimed that even in Kisoira, NFA chased residents from their land without proper explanation.
In Mujwambura, at least five villages are affected, with 30 households involved. The Lands Ministry wrote to the village chairpersons, requesting them to open up boundaries, which the sub-county chairperson denied.
"I ordered them not to allow the surveying team to go ahead until they produce land titles," Tumukunde said, before asking the minister to rescue the situation. 
Minister Nabakooba encouraged people to always channel their land issues through the local leaders to enable the ministry to solve them
In her response, Nabakooba directed the surveyor to work with the district security committee led by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) to open up the boundaries of the land. "After organizing yourselves and setting the day for the exercise, I expect a report in one week to establish the exact facts regarding this land," she said. The minister told the residents that President Museveni issued a directive to all RDCs and Resident City Commissioners across the country not to let anyone evict people.
"I have been informed some people have been doing boundary openings on your land, but the reports produced don’t mean you are going to be chased away. As long as President Museveni is still here, no one can evict you," Nabakooba assured locals.
She encouraged people to always channel their land issues through the local leaders to enable the ministry to solve them.
Leaders were also urged to ensure they are on the ground when boundary openings start to guarantee transparency. "Give us some time to do boundary openings to know the size each person owns, and after, we shall help you to apply and get yourselves land titles. The report produced by the surveyor will guide the way forward."
The Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, who doubles as Kyaka South MP, told the residents that the Land Act protects them and they should not be worried. "The Ugandan law indicates that if someone lives on land for more than 12 years, they are adequately protected and cannot be chased away," he said.
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