Residents of Sango Bay in Kyotera District have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to establish a special committee to investigate the contentious issues surrounding the disputed land. This comes after fresh eviction incidents, including the burning of houses and destruction of gardens.
Led by Dhahiro Victor and Kanini William, residents of Bukaala A in Kabira Sub County, accuse Kyotera District RDC Apollo Mugume and Sango Bay Police Commissioner Godfrey Maate of orchestrating the evictions. However, RDC Mugume denies the allegations, claiming that those being evicted are new settlers on the land.
According to Mr. Maate, they are implementing a presidential directive to prevent people from settling on the land, which has been allocated to Bidco for a palm oil project.
However, sources dispute this, stating that wealthy individuals are allowed to establish permanent structures, including coffee plantations, on the land.
The residents had previously petitioned the Equal Opportunities Commission, which halted all activities on the disputed land.
The residents are now seeking President Museveni’s intervention to resolve the issue.
Sango Bay land is 250 square miles which is around 64000 hectares.
In a letter written by the President, he directed that, the Sango bay land be surveyed, 20,000 hectares given to BIDCO U Ltd for palm tree planting, 2,000 hectares be given to Bukoola Chemical Industries and the remaining 43,000 hectares be left for the residents and resettlement for those who will have to move from the land given to investors.
President Museveni further directed that the evicting of citizens should be done following the law.
