Tears, wounds of Lusanja evictees

KAMPALA. She stood in front of her tent, clutching on her back as if to get extra support. Her face looked tired and gloomy yet the day was just beginning.
Ms Sharon Akugizibwe, 23, a mother of one, is one of the many residents whose lives have suddenly come to a standstill after they were evicted by a businessman in Lusanja Village, Nangabo Sub-county in Wakiso District a week ago. Ms Akugizibwe is also pregnant.

“I have to put myself together in a very short time because I am on the verge of losing my baby due to high blood pressure, which comes alongside pregnancy,” the sobbing Akugizibwe said.
She said she could have managed to look after her three-year-old son and care for the pregnancy if her house had been spared.

Double tragedy
A week before the eviction, Akugizibwe had lost her husband.
“I just do not know what do right now. After the death of my husband, I thought that was the end of me but now that even my house, the only form of wealth he had left for me, was broken down, I cannot take it anymore,” she added.
A total of 35 houses were destroyed and more than 550 people lost their property when court bailiffs, acting on behalf of Mr Medard Kiconco, the property owner, evicted the alleged encroachers from his 9.6-acre piece of land that he claims to have acquired from Mr Paul Katabaazi Bitarabeho in 2016.

Mr Arron Ayikiriiza, 48, a father of four, said he needs about Shs150,000 for specialised treatment of his hand he said was cut by court bailiffs as he struggled to save some of his property.
“We officially paid for this land; there is no reason as to why we should be treated like foreigners. I lost all my property in the house and I now have to look after my four children and my wife from zero,” Mr Ayikiriiza said.

Accommodation woes
Mr Ayikiriiza now lives with his family in a tent that accommodates another 23 men, women and children.
“During the day, people go to work and at night everyone comes back. The number is very big for the few tents that were provided by the President,” he said.
Mr Fred Kanyike, the Lusanja 1 Zone chairperson, who is also one of the victims, said more help is required as people are vulnerable to diseases.
“Some people were beaten but we need the government to expedite the solution as many people’s lives are at stake. Some of us as leaders have been arrested and tortured but we are not willing to relent. We need a solution because these people are many,” he says.
In an earlier interview, Wakiso Woman MP Rosemary Seninde said more relief was being planned for the affected people.
“We are looking into the matter to see that the people are compensated and get an immediate solution. We request that the people remain calm as we work out something,” she said.

Looking back

Kasokoso evictions. This is not the first time evictions are happening in Wakiso District. In 2014, the National Housing and Construction Cooperation (NHCC) and the residents of Kasokoso, Kyadondo East constituency were involved in running battles over a 380-acre piece of land, which saw more than 30 people arrested.
Intervention. Government later stopped the eviction and forced NHCC to compensate the residents for the damage inflicted on them during the eviction.

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