By Witness Radio team.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) of the Kapapi community have started criminal proceedings at Hoima Chief Magistrates Court against the Hoima Rural District Police Commander, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) General, and Hoima Deputy Resident District Commissioner (D/RDC) and others at large for the criminal and attempted offences committed while illegally evicting over 2500 locals off their land.
The evictees were residing in Waaki North, Kapapi Central, Waaki South, Runga, and Kiryatete villages in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties in Hoima district.
Brig. Gen. Peter Akankunda Nabasa, Gafayo Ndawula William, Kyakashari Micheal (Deputy RDC Hoima), Oketcha Micheal, Bogere Patrick (DPC, Hoima), Kiiza Nathan Byarugonjo, Oromo Luzira (Secretary LCI, Runga), Mukindo Bosco, Okethi Bosco, Oming Jacob, Muswa Micheal, Kawiya Henry, Ningaling Joseph and others still at large have been summoned to appear before Hoima Chief Magistrate court and show cause why they should not be prosecuted.
The 1st accused person is the Deputy Commander of Uganda People Defense Forces Police, First Division, Kakiri in Wakiso District; The 2nd Accused is a Businessman with Businesses in Hoima District; the 3rd Accused is Deputy RDC Hoima District. The 4th Accused is the District Police Commander, Uganda Police Force, Hoima District. The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th & 13th Accused are residents of Kapaapi Village, Kapaapi Parish, Kapaapi Sub County, Hoima District.
Criminal case file no. 877 of 2023 opened at Hoima court contains various criminal offenses allegedly committed by the accused, such as criminal trespass, arson, looting property, sexually abusing and raping women, battering people, and forcefully evicting residents from their homes, which constitutes a violation of the non-derogable right to freedom from torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment, as guaranteed under Article 23 And 44 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
According to complainants following the invasion, the accused persons perpetrated severe human rights violations against them and their families. These transgressions encompassed the discharge of tear gas canisters into the same, firing of live bullets, setting their houses ablaze, physical assaults, kidnap and the forced eviction from their land.
“During the raid, the accused persons came to my house at around 1 AM local time and set it on fire forcing us out. By the time I rescued the children who were deeply asleep, one of them was severely burnt. Upon forcing us out of our homes, I, my children, and my neighbors were tied up, severely battered, women raped, and forcefully evicted us from our land. Currently my family is rendered homeless, living at a church in Bulisa without any basics of life.” Said one of the witnesses in the case.
On February 10, 2023, at 1:00 AM local time, dozens of unidentified armed men, cladding Uganda Police Force (UPF) Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) uniforms and believed to be under the orders of DPC Bogere and Brigadier Nabasa together with armed guards from Magnum, a private security company dispossessed lawful land occupants without compensation, resettlement, or a court order.
Why Tirenga is mentioned in this illegal land eviction? In a February 2021 report from Total Energies Uganda, titled “Tilenga Project – Resettlement Action Plan 4,” it identified Kapapi, Runga, Waaki, and Kiryatete villages as areas that will be affected by the proposed Tilenga Feeder Pipeline Component (RAP 4).
The Tilenga feeder pipeline corridor is approximately 95 km long. It originates from the Tilenga Project Central Processing Facility (CPF), about 8 km northeast of Buliisa town in Buliisa District and 5 km south of the Albert Nile. The purpose and the need for the Tilenga feeder pipeline, according to Total Energies, is to deliver crude oil to the planned refinery in Kabaale and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
According to Witness Radio – Uganda findings, the individuals named in the case file have been in correspondence with the Total Energies before and after the illegal land eviction with the motive to benefit from the community’s grabbed land.
The case is yet to be fixed for hearing.
