After 21 years of displacement, Kiryandongo residents hope for return as govt releases funds for boundary reopening
"Justice will be delivered. land problems are many, but everything will be solved," he said.
Kiryandongo: Residents of Nyama Village in Buhomozi Parish, Kiryandongo District, have renewed their call for justice and resettlement, 21 years after a disputed eviction that displaced hundreds of families and left many without land.
The residents were evicted on December 24, 2004, following a long-running land dispute. Since then, many families have remained displaced, while others migrated to neighbouring villages after losing their homes and property.
Wanyonyi Atanasi, the Nyama Village Chairperson, who has led the village since the eviction, said residents have waited for justice for more than two decades. He urged Ugandans to register their land to safeguard ownership rights and prevent future disputes.
Asiimwe Moses Mwendwa, a resident said the community has endured years of uncertainty while waiting for government to reopen land boundaries and allow families to return to their ancestral land.
John Elalai, another resident attributed the dispute to historical land transactions involving thousands of acres that allegedly resulted in overlapping claims and subsequent evictions. He called for a thorough investigation into the missing land before the matter is conclusively resolved.
Olee Robert, the Buhomozi Parish LCII Chairperson said the delayed boundary opening had prevented many displaced residents from returning home. He explained that earlier attempts by the district survey team were frustrated by disputes over land ownership, and appealed to residents to acquire land titles and register their land to avoid similar conflicts.
Jovia Katusime Mbabazi, the Kiryandongo District Woman Member of Parliament announced that the Minister for Local Government Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, had provided funding to facilitate the district survey exercise aimed at reopening the disputed boundaries.
She thanked the minister for supporting the exercise and urged local leaders to work together to ensure a peaceful and transparent process. She also cautioned SACCO leaders against extorting money from beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model programme.
Ongi Rooney, the Kiryandongo District Land Surveyor confirmed that the survey team will begin opening the boundaries on Friday at 9:00 a.m., starting with the land belonging to Captain Omar and the church. He said consultations with all affected parties, including Captain Omar, will first be conducted on Monday to verify existing survey records before the exercise begins.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Jonathan Akwetereho acknowledged persistent insecurity in parts of the district, including cattle theft and conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, and urged local leaders to strengthen community conflict resolution mechanisms.
He assured residents that government was committed to resolving the land dispute.
“Justice will be delivered. Land problems are many, but everything will be solved. I encourage all residents to register their land because secure ownership is key to preventing future conflicts,” Akwetereho said.
The district survey team is expected to officially open the disputed boundaries on Friday at 9:00 a.m., marking what many residents hope will be the beginning of the long-awaited resettlement process after more than two decades of displacement.
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