Monday, September 13, 2021

BY: DOREEN NASASIRA

The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has warned against the sale of land used for refugee resettlement noting that it belongs to the government.

“The sale of land by the refugees should be stopped because it is owned by the government,” Nabbanja said.

The Premier made the remarks at Nakivale Refugee Resettlement in Isingiro District on Saturday, where she had gone to try and resolve land wrangles between the refugees and the hosting communities.

She said the government is committed to ensuring that the refugees and the hosting communities live harmoniously.

She condemned the act of forceful eviction of nationals from their private land to settle refugees and asked the camp commandants to desist from it.

The Premier also noted that she will institute a committee to oversee and handle the land wrangles being experienced in the area between the parties involved.

She thanked the residents of Isingiro District for supporting NRM and urged them to embrace the parish development model. She called for transparency in the implementation of the model.

“The misuse of funds allocated through the parish development model will be investigated and the culprits will be penalized,” the Premier said.

The Prime Minister appealed to the residents to continue observing the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures.

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Planning, Hon. Judith Nabakooba pledged to work with the technical team in her office and the officials from the Office of the Prime Minister to find a solution to the land wrangles.

The Minister of State for Animal Industry and Member of Parliament for Isingiro North County, Hon. Bright Rwamirama called for fresh demarcation of land belonging to the government and the hosting communities as a mechanism to solving the land disputes in the area.

On behalf of the Development Partners, the Head of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sub- Office in Mbarara, Shelubale Paul Ali- PAUNI thanked the government for its open-door policy towards refugees. He cited inadequate funding and the poor road network as some of the challenges experienced by the development partners in the area.

The meeting was also attended by the district leaders and government officials among others. End.