By: Ismael Kasooha
ISINGIRO
The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has directed government officials in Nakivale Refugee Settlement to stop settling Refugees on land that belongs to the Host Communities in Isingiro District.
“When I visited Nakivale Settlement in 2021, I directed that no Refugees should be settled on land that belongs to the Host Communities and my directive still stands,” said Nabbanja.
The Premier at the Parade mounted by UPDF, Police and Prisons
This followed a complaint raised by the Bukanga County Member of Parliament, Nathan Byanyima that government officials, especially the Settlement Commandant, were settling Refugees on land that belongs to the local community causing tension between refugees and the local community.
“Government officials, especially the Camp Commandant, have continued to settle refugees on land that belongs to the host communities. This has led to increased tension between the Host Communities and the refugees which is not healthy at all,” said Byanyima.
The Premier was recently presiding over the belated Women’s Day celebrations for Isingiro District at the District headquarters.
Isingiro District is one of the Refugee Hosting Districts in the Country because of its location bordering Rwanda and Tanzania.
In 2021, the Premier 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 handing over a clean gas cooking system to one of the beneficiaries in Isingiro District
The Premier made the remarks at Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro District 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.
The Premier said that she would institute a committee to investigate the allegations but would also personally visit the settlement soon.
Nabbanja promised that the commissioner Refugees, Patrick Okello would be sent to Nakivale to further investigate the issues at hand and report back to her for action.
Nabbanja lauded the people of Isingiro District for accepting to live with the refugees harmoniously.
The Prime Minister commissioned the clean cooking gas project initiated by the Woman Member of Parliament for Isingiro District, Clare Mugumya. She also delivered 50 Million shillings towards the project from the First Lady, Janet Kataha Museveni.
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