Police has stopped the construction of houses in the disputed Bunhya Forest reserve in Mayuge.
The directive follows violent clashes in the area early this week, in which four people were beaten into comma.
Christopher Kubai, the South Eastern Regional Police commander says that police decided to stop all constructions in the disputed areas after receiving reports that members of the rival groups are planning to confront each other.
He says that the recent clashes broke out because a group of residents, who claim to be the rightful owners of the disputed land armed with a court order, stormed the area and started constructing houses.
Kubai says that although the residents had a genuine court order they didn't follow the right procedures.
//Cue in ithe Inspector General#i
Cue out i#through those processes.i//
Kubai says that no construction will be allowed on the disputed land until court dispenses an interim injunction by residents, challenging their eviction by the National Forestry Authority.
Peter Ogwai the Forestry Reserve manager says that any constructions in the disputed areas are illegal because the land belongs to NFA.
He says that the residents were only allowed to plant fast mature yielding crops in the reserve, that should be harvested by January next year.
Ogwai says that it is surprising that some of the residents are now constructing houses.
