EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — Close to 20 Rwandans are camping at Matimba Sector after authorities in Isingiro district western Uganda last week evicted them from Kyahi forest reserve.

The evictees who spoke to our reporter admitted they were illegally settling on the land to graze their cattle, but blamed Ugandan authorities for forcefully using security personnel to evict them on short notice.

They claim due to short notice they left behind their belongings including their cattle. They argue that the decision was against a court order which had given them up to June 18 to leave the forest. They had reportedly sued the forest authorities through their lawyer Ngaruye Ruhindi.

According to sources, those evicted included Ugandans of Rwandan origin and other Ugandans from different ethnic tribes including the Bahima pastoralists, and farmers who are said to be the original descendants of the area. The group claims to have settled in Isingiro, formerly part of Mbarara district, for the past 20 years.

"They evicted us on grounds that we settled in the land of Kyahi forest land reserve illegally. While we were still waiting for a legal redress, we saw the army deploying all around the village commanding us to pack up our belongings and leave their area,” one of the evictees said.

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