KYOTERA – Tension has risen in Kabira sub county, Kyotera district following a fresh dispute on the utilization of the part of the former Sango Bay Sugar Estates Land.
In the latest dispute, a local businessman Faustino Murengyezi is being accused by close to 1,000 residents of Bukaala village, of attempting to displace them from public land, which is part of the 14,000 hectares that were formerly leased to the defunct Sango Bay Sugar Estate Limited, and later reverted to the central government following the expulsion of the Asians in 1972.
However, Murengyezi recently fenced off a big chunk of the land locking up residents who have been using part of the land for cultivating food crops and grazing animals.
Residents say Murengyezi used local police to harass them, having blocked them access to water sources and their gardens which his herds have currently destroyed. They are calling for government’s intervention.
Richard Kalanzi, the Kabira Sub County Chairperson says he has notified the Office of Resident District Commissioner to intervene before the dispute turns violent.
But Vincent Ntambiye, the Estate Manager of Faustino Marengyezi notes that their interest is to guard their animals against residents who says were stealing them.
