By; Our reporter.

It has been revealed that More than 1000 Ugandans in areas neighboring Kyangwali Refugees settlement were forced to attain refugee status in order to retain ‘ownership’ of their land.

The scheme was reportedly crafted by Charles Bafaki, the Principal Resettlement Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jolly Kebirungi, the Camp Commandant Kyangwali Refugee Settlement Area, in the newly created Kikuube district and Lutaaya Vianney from Ministry of Lands.

The residents say, the officers with the use of police and soldiers, tortured residents and forced them to sign up as refugees on their own land, after which they were issued with cards confirming them as refugees around November last year.

Nestroy Tumwesigye, a resident of Bukinda in Kyangwali Sub County explains that those who declined to denounce their citizenship for refugee status were harassed and had their land annexed to the resettlement land, which is reserved for refugees.

Each refugee in Uganda is entitled to a 50 by 50 plot of land for cultivation and settlement, materials for construction of a shelter and daily food rations for a period of at least one year.

The residents now want the officers investigated by the state house Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt. Col. Edith Nakalema for allegedly turning them into refugees on their own land.

They also accused the government of favoring refugees at the expense of Ugandans, adding that efforts to better the lives of refugees have rendered Ugandans landless in their own country.


Wednesday 2nd January 2019 01:57:29 PM