Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom has protested government's decision to pave way for the return of the Banyarwanda-Bakiga evictees to Guramwa forestry reserve in Nkoko Sub county, Kibaale district.
On August 21, more than 700 people were evicted from Gurumwa forestry reserve.
The eviction exercise was carried out by Officials from the National Forestry Authority, accompanied by the security personnel.
The National forestry Authority accused the residents of illegal encroachment on the land reesrve.
During the eviction, property was destroyed, houses demolished and agricultural plantations slashed to the ground. With no alternative, the evictees decided to pitch camp at schools and churches in Rutooma village.
But hardly a week after their eviction, president Yoweri Museveni through his political advisor, Moses Byaruhanga , ordered that they be returned to the reserve, a decision that has not gone down too well with the kingdom authorities.
Speaking to journalists on Friday evening, Yabezi Kiiza, the kingdom premier, said allowing the encroachers back into the reserve, contravenes the resolutions made during a meeting between the president and Bunyoro Kingdom officials in June this year.
Kiiza says that during the meeting, it was agreed that all immigrants in forestry reserves in Bunyoro be evicted. He wondered why the president would turn around and tell these people to return.
Bunyoro kingdom premier says government should not return those evictees to Guramwa forest reserve, because they are responsible for the gross depletion of forest reserves in the kingdom.
