NUP draw smiles on Bunyoro land grabbing victims

NUP President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu and his team have spent the day in Bunyoro Sub-region and visited about 500 households who claim to have been evicted way back in 2015 under the watch of the military, and are still helpless and homeless.

Kyagulanyi also visited Kijayo Internally Displaced Camp which has about 6000 people from the indigenous communities of Bakiga, Banyoro, and some Alur who were evicted from about 1,300 acres in Kijayo, Buhaguzi county in Kikube district.

In his message, Bobi condemned government for being silent as such things prevail under their watch.

Bobi’s message;

We have spent the day in Bunyoro Sub-region where we visited about 500 households of our who were evicted by Hoima Sugar Limited in 2015 under the watch of the military, and are still helpless and have nowhere to go to. We visited them at Kijayo Internally Displaced Camp. About 6000 people from the indigenous communities of Bakiga, Banyoro, and some Alur communities were evicted from about 1,300 acres in Kijayo, Buhaguzi county in Kikuube district to pave way for the sugar plantation.

Up to now, the victims of the ugly eviction, that left many dead, have not been compensated. These families now live in shacks. The people here say they have not seen any government official, and have been left at the mercy of nature. They struggle to find food, clean water and access to medication. They do not have burial grounds for their loved ones! The eviction razed down their ancestral burial grounds.

Most children are not going to school. The few who can afford the 20,000 schools fees for a term study in dilapidated structures or under trees. Many young children are now mothers. There is no antenatal care; mothers give birth assisted by untrained local birth attendants who do not have the basic items such as gloves. Aside from being exposed to infections, many have lost lives while giving birth. We were told that malaria, cough, pneumonia and diarrhea have left many, especially children dead.

We also interacted with many, who were violently evicted from their land over speculation of the Oil Pipeline, and have never been compensated or relocated.

We delivered the very much needed food relief as well as other household items to assist them.

We can only bring an end to this indignity by putting an end to the very regime that has brought so much suffering to so many people.