Mayuge Leaders Demand Fulfilment of Museveni’s 2010 Land Pledge

What the report says

Mayuge district leaders are pressing the Ugandan government to honour a 2010 presidential directive that they say promised 500 hectares of Bukaleba forest reserve land for resettlement. According to Nile Post, the leaders warned that plans to convert the area into a wildlife conservation zone could put more than 20,000 residents at risk of eviction. They raised the issue during prayers marking the Bishop James Hannington commemoration at Kyando in Bukatuube Sub-county, Mayuge District.

District Chairperson David Ziija said the proposed conservation plan appeared to conflict with the earlier directive and called for a clear explanation of how the land decision was made. Bunya West MP Aggrey Bagire also said residents had been given only a short time to leave, and he questioned reports that animals belonging to local people had been shot during enforcement. The leaders said conservation should not come at the expense of communities already living on the land.

Beyond the land dispute, the leaders renewed calls for other pledges they say remain unfulfilled, including money promised to district councillors and rehabilitation of key roads such as Iganga–Bwondha and Bufulubi–Kyando. They argued that better roads would support farming and future tourism around Kyando. The government, represented by Minister Persis Namuganza and Minister Milly Babalanda, said it remained committed to developing the Hannington site and encouraging household income through tourism and other economic activities. Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba also led prayers and urged an end to violence.