Over 3000 residents settling on the ministry of defense land in Kyangwali sub-county are to be evicted by the army to enable it establish a barracks in the area. The barracks is meant to provide security to oil wells in Hoima where oil production is expected to start later this year.

The affected residents are from the Seven (7) villages that are found in the two parishes of Kasonga ‘A’ and ‘B’ in the Kyangwali refugee settlement camp.

The army is currently registering all residents to know their number how they obtained the land and investments so far under taken.
The registration exercise began on Monday and it is being spearheaded by the Kyangwali army detach commander major, Tom Okolongo.

The reserve commander mid western lieutenant Yoram Kagezi says the registration exercise is function by major general Jorum Mugume of UPDF land sector.

The exercise stated after Mugume visited the area recently and foundout that the people had encroached on the army land. Local leaders and residents in the area are unhappy by the move taken by the army.

They accuse major Okolongo of threatening them that he will forcefully evict them if they do not register. They also accuses the army of the bi-passing the local leaders.

Hoima deputy RDC Abdul somatic Owentimba says the land in question belongs to the ministry of defense that has got its land titles. He said that genuine settlers on the land will be compensated according to the land Act.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias