Court starts verification of 2,000 people evicted by NEMA, NFA
Some of the complainants in court for verification. Photo by Juliet Kigongo
What you need to know:
- About 2,000 residents from Bukasa-Kirinya last year dragged NEMA to High Court accusing it of illegally evicting them from their land without compensation or an alternative settlement place.
Court on Monday started the verification exercise of over 2,000 people that are said to have been evicted by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) from areas of Namataba, Kito, Bukasa, Kirinya.
The verification exercise was directed by High Court Judge Oumo Oguli.
The environmental bodies claim that the residents are settling in a forest reserve and wetland illegally.
The exercise is meant to identify the rightful complainants before the hearing of the case in which they sued NEMA and NFA begins.
For one to be verified, the person must have a valid national identification card, accompanied by an LC letter, proof of ownership of property and must tell court what kind of development they have on the said land.
However some residents have asked court to allow them more time within which to organise their documents claiming they were put on short notice last Friday.
About 2,000 residents from Bukasa-Kirinya last year dragged NEMA to High Court accusing it of illegally evicting them from their land without compensation or an alternative settlement place.
Exercise is still on going before the registrar Alex Ajiji.
