The presidential affairs committee of parliament has halted investigations into Rwamwanja refugee camp in Nkoma Sub County, Kamwenge district.
The refugee camp, measuring about 40 square miles, has been at the heart of a dispute between government and more than 10,000 settlers. In April this year, government asked the settlers on the land to vacate to pave way for the resettlement of Congolese refugees.
The settlers however resisted the eviction and went to court. Court presided over by Justice Eldad Mwanguhya issued an order prohibiting the Attorney General (AG) and the Minister of Disaster Preparedness, Dr Stephen Malinga, from evicting or in any way interfering with the land in Rwamwanja until the main suit is heard and determined.
Toro King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru also petitioned the United Nations Refugee Agency—UNHCR in a bid to protect the Rwamwanja settlers from being evicted.
The stand off forced parliament to institute a probe after Kibaale County MP Frank Tumwebaze protested against the forceful eviction of the residents.
The presidential affairs committee, which is mandated to handle the matter, had already begun receiving evidence and testimonies from interested parties but has now stopped the activity.
According to the chairperson Presidential Affairs committee of parliament, Barnabas Tinkasiimire, the probe had to be suspended until court pronounces itself on the matter.
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The probe was characterized by drama at some point when the minister for Disaster Preparedness, Dr Stephen Malinga stormed out of one of the meetings citing disrespect from the committee chairperson.
The minister was asked to explain why he was evicting local residents to allow refugees stay on the land. Malinga insisted that government will not accept giving Rwamwanja Refugee camp to the people of Kamwenge because they occupied the land illegally.
Minister Malinga observed that government had decided to re-open Rwamwanja refugee camp because settlements such as Nakivale, Oruchinga, Kyaka II, Kiryandongo and Kyangwali were full to capacity. Rwamwanja had for years been occupied by Rwandan refugees before they went back home after the 1994 genocide.
