Residents of Kazinga parish in Kyaka county, Kyenjojo district are opposed to the construction of a Bio-diesel factory in their area.
Government gave Roshini Bio-tech land at Kazinga one refugee settlement in February this year to set up a factory. The factory will extract bio-diesel from Pongamia Pinnatta, an Indian plant known for its oil qualities.
But several disputes have broken out between the residents and the Asian owners of Roshini since government announced plans to construct the factory.
On Sunday, one of the residents Patrick Musinguzi was shot dead by a Special Police Constable. The police was firing to disperse the residents after they raided the construction site of the factory and destroyed property.
The residents claim that the land on which the factory is being built belongs to them. They claim Mpara Sub County authorities issued them receipts confirming that the land belongs to them.
David Tumwesigye one of the residents says he has lived on the disputed land for over thirty years and at no time has government given him a notice to vacate the land.
Another resident Joseph Magezi says that they are not interested in promises to be given employment on the factory. He says all they want is to retain their land.
He says that government should find alternative land for the investor. Job Ziryahabwe, the councilor for Kazinga parish says that the residents have refused to co-exist with the factory, receive compensation or be relocated.
//Cue in: iAmong the three options#i
Cue out: iinvestor given land other than Kyaka...i//
Some residents have vowed to resist attempts by the government to evict them. Stella Katusiime has stayed on the land for thirty years.
She says evicting them will destroy all they have put up on the project for the last thirty years. Schools, shops, permanent houses and health centers have been constructed on the disputed land.
Nasser Basajjabalaba, the Country Director Roshani Bio- Tech, has asked the residents to support the factory. He says the factory will provide employment opportunities to the community.
The Resident District Commissioner Kyenjojo, Charles Mubiru says the government will forcefully evict the residents since they have rejected proposals for compensation and alternative land.
