By witnessradio.org Team
Mubende – Kampala – More than 14 families in 3 villages of Butoro, Kyedikyo, and Nakasozi, Madudu Sub County in Mubende district are facing fresh evictions by Formasa Tree Planting Company, a Chinese-owned company.
Since 2011, Formasa Limited under the protection of Mubende police has forcefully grabbed 2590 hectares that were a source of livelihood for poor communities.
The land grabbing has affected over 10 villages including Butoro, Kyedikyo, Nakasozi, Namayindi, Kitebe, Kisiigwa, Mukiguluka, Busaabala, and Kicucuulo located both in Maduddu and Butoloogo sub-counties, Mubende district.
Cecilia Namawejje aged 80 years, resident of Butoro is one of the families under tension after her 2acres banana plantation was cut down by a group of 42 workers of Formasa tree planting company.
In the last days of 2020, a group of 42 workers attached to Formasa Company attacked 3 villages, destroyed houses and plantations of residents forcing them off their land.
Namawejje with over 20 acres in this area said she has occupied this land for more than 50 years and this has been earning a living for her family.
“Wounds caused by Formasa to me can never heal. In 2017 my two sons; Sam Serugo and Yona Sejjombwe were arrested and imprisoned for 34 years over the same wrangles. And again they came threatening to kill us if we do not move off our land. The land we have occupied for decades, where do they want us to go,” she narrated.
Namawejje who had more than 50 acres said over 30 acres have so far been grabbed by formasa. “I cannot access the remaining 20 acres, I have a family of 8 grandchildren, we have nothing to eat and I cannot even afford to educate them,” she added.
Annet Nannyonjo a mother of 11 in the same village whose 5 acres of cassava plantation were also destroyed is in total misery due to a lack of what to feed the family.
“My husband (Salongo Ssemombwe Richard) was arrested by the same company, we used to grow food but the workers usually cut it down. Now we are left with nothing to eat,” she added.
She added that she experiences sexual assaults from the workers. “They threatened to gang-rape me because the would-be keeper (my husband) was first arrested, “she added.
Residents who have never received compensation from Formasa or its agents are being threatened and stopped from cultivating their land by company workers.
The chairperson of Butolo village, Mr. Ngenda Paul said that the case was reported to police but they were not attended to.
According to residents, Formasa land grab has deprived them of the right to food, clean water, shelter, and education for their children among others.
