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Kyabazinga coronation site faces encroachment

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Construction. Houses that have been put up at the Kyabazinga coronation site at Mpumudde Hill. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA

Mpumudde Hill, a cultural and historical site widely regarded with reverence by elders and cultural leaders in Busoga sub-region, is where the current and former Kyabazingas were crowned.
It is also widely viewed by historians as the site where Omukama (king) Kabalega of Bunyoro breathed his last in 1923.
Located approximately four kilometres from Jinja Town, the hill overlooks Lake Victoria, Bugembe Cathedral and the Kyabazinga’s palace atop Igenge Hill.

Cognisant of the fact that coronation is crucial to kingship; it now appears more likely than ever that the future of this once revered hill hangs in balance. The site has been encroached on.
A recent visit to the site by Daily Monitor showed ongoing construction works as well as excavation of murram.
Unlike most tourism sites in the kingdom, Mpumudde Hill has no security personnel, giving the public unrestricted access.
Some residents have taken advantage of this to cultivate on its land.

Although the kingdom spokesperson, Mr Andrew Ntange, acknowledged that there are some encroachers on the historical site, he bemoaned a section of people in Busoga for their failure to value their heritage and culture.
“The kingdom under Kyabazinga William Nadiope Gabula IV has made it easy for people in Busoga to access any office regarding information about it but people have failed to utilise it,” Mr Ntange said during an interview recently.
“The kingdom has also instituted a team to verify the people who occupied this land. It is now the responsibility of the kingdom to ensure that it is conserved for future generations to know their origin,” he added.

Encroachers warned
Mr Ntange, who conceded that activities carried out around the hill have raised concern to the kingdom, warned that those who illegally acquired land on the hill would lose it.
“Houses around it are going to be demolished whether they (encroachers) like it or not,” he said.
On allegations that previous kingdom chiefs and administrators were behind the fracas of leasing and selling off kingdom property, Mr Ntange blamed what he referred to as ‘selfish individuals within the kingdom’ who think Busoga will not shine again.

“This is not about the past kingdom leadership; even in the current leadership, we have some individuals who are using their offices and positions to sell kingdom land. We shall use all means within the law to get back what belongs to Busoga kingdom,” he said.

The kingdom’s minister of tourism, Ms Hellen Namutamba, said the encroachment of the hill was tantamount to the annihilation of Basoga’s origin and culture.
“I think a lot of sensitisation about the hill needs to be done for the community to know about the importance of the hill. That is the hill, where Kyabazingaship begun, it is upon that hill that Omukama Kabalega rested that is why it bears the name, Mpumwiire meaning I have rested. It is this hill that binds the Basoga and Banyoro,” Ms Namutamba said.

She said the current leadership is working hard to solve the differences between leaders and the community regarding the site.
According to Mr David Kazungu, the chairperson of the Kamuli District Land Board, the encroachment shows signs of a weak kingdom.
“I do not see how people can encroach on say Bulange (the seat of Buganda Kingdom) or State House,” Mr Kazungu said.
Mr Julius Galisonga, a lawyer from Busoga, says the hill is not the first to be encroached on.

“If you recall, even Budo, where the Kabaka of Buganda was enthroned, was encroached on. It took a spirited effort to save it. For the Mpumuddde case, as a recognised cultural site, anyone purporting to acquire it does so at his or her own risk because there is a notice to all in form of common knowledge and history that this land is not saleable,” Mr Galisonga said.
“One cannot be a bona-fide purchaser for value without notice. As a kingdom, I know efforts will be made to reclaim the land because this is the very existence of the kingdom and the people of Busoga at stake,” he added.

Residents speak out
Mr Kenneth Kigongo, resident of Mpumudde, called for dialogue.
“All this greed is happening due to lack of sensitisation, disunity among the people of Busoga. This is one of the most treasured tourism sites, tracing the history of Busoga. It needs to be strongly protected from being misused,” Mr Kigongo said.
Mr Mathias Mutatyama, another resident, said many people in the region do not know the importance of the hill and cultural value.
“If this hill is not protected from encroachers, then people of Busoga will not have a story to tell the future generation. We need to own our culture by conserving it jealously,” he said.

History of Mpumudde hill
Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro and Kabaka Mwanga of Buganda fought colonial occupation in the late 19th Century but the British captured them in 1899 in Dokolo. The two were then exiled to the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean where Mwanga died in 1903. Kabalega lived in captivity for a number of years and was later granted amnesty and permitted to go back home. On his way back to Bunyoro in 1923, he fell ill in Jinja due to fatigue from the long restless days and nights. On this fateful day, Kabalega and his servants went up Mpumudde Hill to rest before they would resume the trek. Unfortunately, Kabalega got weaker with each step and eventually decided to take a nap under a tree. This is when the hand of death struck – drawing the curtains to the life of a great warrior

Source: Daily Monitor

WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Uganda: Land-grab victim communities will join counterparts in commemorating the 2024 International Day of Struggle Against Industrial Plantations.

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By Witness Radio team.

On September 21, 2024, land-grabs communities under their group, the Informal Alliance for communities affected by irresponsible land-based investments in Uganda for the first will join fellow victims in commemorating the International Day of Struggle Against Industrial Plantations, highlighting the growing threat posed by large-scale monoculture plantations.

These industrial plantations have led to the forced eviction of millions of people across Uganda, displacing indigenous communities and stripping them of their land rights and livelihoods. Driven by multinational companies and government-backed investors, with the support of government and private security entities, these evictions prioritize profits over people.

Among the many Ugandan communities still suffering the devastating impact of monoculture plantations are over 30,000 people who were violently displaced from the Namwasa and Luwunga forest reserves between 2006 and 2010 to make way for the New Forests Company’s pine and eucalyptus plantations. In addition, thousands of local and indigenous communities were illegally evicted to make way for palm oil plantations in Kalangala district. Nearly 4,000 people had their land grabbed by the Formosa tree planting company in the Mubende district, and over 35,000 were displaced in Kiryandongo to make way for industrial agriculture to grow maize, soybean, and sugarcane plantations, among others. These and other affected communities united and formed the Informal Alliance for Victims affected by irresponsible land-based investments to defend their rights in early 2019.

The International Day of Struggle Against Industrial Plantations was first celebrated on September 21, 2004, during a community network meeting fighting against industrial tree plantations in Brazil. Since then, it has become a day when organizations, communities, and movements worldwide come together to celebrate resistance and raise their voices, demanding an end to the relentless expansion of industrial tree plantations.

In Uganda, on Saturday, September 21, the 2024 commemoration will start with a radio program in a local dilect (Luganda) purposely to highlight weird experiences faced by communities displaced by large-scale monoculture plantations, struggles for justice, and holding companies and financiers accountable. A one-hour radio program starting at 10 a.m. EAT will feature leaders of the loose alliance. Listen to the radio program on Witness Radio platforms on the website www.witnessradio.org or download the Witness Radio App on playstore.

Later, land-grab victims in Uganda will join their colleagues from Africa and other countries around the globe in a webinar meeting aimed at fostering organizations’ and rural communities’ connection across member countries and communities to build confidence, share experiences, strengthen our campaign to reignite hopes and forge a bond of understanding between the Informal Alliance and victim communities shattered by destructive plantations as well as deterring future plantations expansion.

The Webinar will start at 3PM EAT and will be aired live on Witness Radio platforms on the website www.witnessradio.org or download the Witness Radio App on playstore.

Please note: Both the radio show and Webinar will be live on Witness Radio on www.witnessradio.org or download the witness radio app on playstore to listen live.

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WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Uganda: CSOs claim Agilis Partners forcibly evicting local communities to pave way for agribusiness; company did not respond

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Witness Radio and its partners have alleged that thousands of people from local and Indigenous communities have been forcefully evicted from their land to make way for Agilis Partners Limited’s large-scale farming operations, in violation of international human rights law.

They have raised concerns about severe human rights abuses including forced evictions and lack of prompt, fair, and adequate compensation; violations of Indigenous peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consent; abduction, arrest, torture, and judicial harassment of human rights defenders, and alleged sexual violence against women and girls, as well as other negative social and environmental impacts.

Witness Radio and its partners representing PAPs have written to Agilis Partners on several occasions seeking a dialogue between the company and people who have been harmed however, the company has not responded to their communications.

In a letter to Agilis Partners in June 2024, 36 civil society organizations called on Agilis Partners and its financial backers to take immediate action to stop the human rights abuses and harassment committed against community members, engage in dialogue with the communities, and restore the lands to the people that have been displaced.

We invited Agilis Partners to respond to the letter, the company did not respond.

Company Responses

Agilis Partners. No Response.

Source: business-humanrights.org

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DEFENDING LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

Breaking: Witness Radio and Partners to Launch Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation, and Advocacy Project Tomorrow.

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By Witness Radio Team.

Witness Radio, in collaboration with Dan Church Aid (DCA) and the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders (NCHRD), is set to launch the Monitoring, Documentation, and Advocacy for Human Rights in Uganda (MDA-HRU) project tomorrow, 22nd February 2024, at Kabalega Resort Hotel in Hoima District.

The project, funded by the European Union, aims to promote the protection and respect for human rights, and enable access to remedy where violations occur especially in the Mid-Western and Karamoja sub-regions where private sector actors are increasingly involved in land-based investments (LBIs) through improved documentation, and evidence-based advocacy.

The three-year project, which commenced in October 2023, focuses its activities in the Mid-Western sub-region, covering Bulisa, Hoima, Masindi, Kiryandongo, Kikuube, Kagadi, Kibale, and Mubende districts, and Karamoja sub-region, covering Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Amudat, Nabilatuk, Abim, Kaabong, Kotido, and Karenga districts.

The project targets individuals and groups at high risk of human rights violations, including Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Land and Environmental Defenders (LEDs). It also engages government duty bearers such as policymakers and implementers in relevant ministries and local governments, recognizing their crucial role in securing land and environmental rights. Additionally, the project involves officials from institutional duty bearers including the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Equal Opportunities Commission, and courts, among others.

Representatives from the international community, faith leaders, and business actors are also included in the project’s scope, particularly those involved in land-based investments (LBIs) impacting the environment.

The project was initially launched in Moroto for the Karamoja region on the 19th of this month with the leadership of the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders (NCHRD).

According to the project implementors,  the action is organized into four activity packages aimed at; enhancing the capacity and skills of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and Land and Environmental Defenders (LEDs) in monitoring, documentation, reporting (MDR), and protection, establishing and reinforcing reporting and documentation mechanisms for advocacy and demand for corporate and government accountability;  providing response and support to HRDs and marginalized communities; and lastly facilitating collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagements that link local and national issues to national and international frameworks and spaces.

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