Basongora pastoralists have pitched camp at Kasese Central Police Station to protest the arrest of their leaders for malicious damage to property.
The leaders who are being held at Kasese Central Police Station are Matiya Muhikirwa, chairperson Ibuga Cattle Keepers Association and Secretary Richard Mulindwa.
Muhikirwa and Mulindwa were picked up on Tuesday after Basongora pastoralists up rooted a fence belonging to Lt. Col Solomon Sheiba and another person only identified as Dr. Gatare.
The pastoralists raided the 110 acre piece of land accusing Col Sheiba and Dr Enid Gatare of encroachment, which has denied their cattle grazing land and access o water.
They claim that Col Sheiba and Dr Gatare are not part of the 10,000 people who resettled by government from Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic republic of Congo.
Wilson Okali, the chairperson of the Basongora community in Kasese says that they want Muhikirwa and Mulindwa immediately released.
He says that the arrest of the two leaders is a plan by Col Sheiba and Dr Gatare to use their positions in government to intimidate them and grab their land.
But Paul Mumbogwe, Kasese District Police Commander says that Muhikirwa and Mulindwa were arrested when David Sunday, the area LC II chairperson lodged a case of malicious damage against the duo.
He says that Kasese Deputy Resident District Commissioner Wilson Isingoma has promised to call a meeting to mediate the conflict.
