Kasese residents living on URC land demand clear boundary demarcation

He said that the community in Kasese Municipality does not have enough land because of the two surrounding National Parks of Rwenzori Mountains and Queen Elizabeth. This is besides lakes, including George, Edward and Kazinga channel.

He, therefore, called for special consideration of the people who are affected by the new development before eviction is done.

 

"Surely, where shall we start from, yet they are going to demolish our houses, which we have spent our hard-earned money to construct?" asked Muhindo.

Rehema Kekitibwa, a mother of five, explained that her and others bought their pieces of land after being duped by sellers that the land belonged to them and that the railway services would never be revamped.

"We appealed to the Government not to evict us but allow us to pay ground rent instead," Kekitibwa pleaded.

Retired Maj. John Katusabe Sibendire, a resident of Kasese, requested that the affected persons need a humble eviction approach to avoid the post-event havoc that may arise, including emotional, physical and financial stress with their related challenges. "Most of these people were scammed while others were not aware of the land ownership by the URC," he said.

The chairperson of Local Council 1 for the Railway Cell, Moses Kabagambe, appealed to the Government to have mercy upon the affected residents, who ignorantly acquired the land.

However, Chance Kahindo, the Kasese Municipality Mayor, advised the affected people to shift their essential items as early as possible to other places before they are destroyed by the eviction team.

Kahindo said he received a letter from URC informing him that they were going to evict all the people staying on the Railway land without any compromise.

"Dear councilors, move around the respective affected communities and talk to the people so that they get clear information and prepare themselves when it is still early," he said.