Residents of Kiyebe village in Ruhiija sub-county, Kabale have fled their homes leaving the village deserted after Police made a surprise swoop hunting for marijuana farms on Thursday. It is estimated that the village is home to over 500 people.
Police led by the south–south western regional police spokesperson Olivia Wawile and Kabale District Police Commander Bosco Arop stormed Kiyebe Parish following a tip from a man who had earlier been arrested in possession of the drug. The man told Police that he had been buying the drug from Ruhiija sub-county which sparked off investigations that led to Kiyebe village.
The raid was launched on Thursday afternoon.
Police were shocked to find that nearly every home in Kiyebe village was engaged in planting and selling of marijuana. Regional Police commander Olivia Wawile said she was surprised to discover that even families with gardens next to the fertile Bwindi National Park had abandoned traditional farming for growing the illicit drug.
Elly Maate, the south–south western regional police spokesperson, said that upon the discovery, an operation to uproot all the marijuana was started. Maate said that the operation could take them up to three days as they do house to house searches for the hidden bags of marijuana that were already packed.
So hastily did the villagers flee, that many ran away without even locking their homes. Maate said that in some homes, Police had found between 20-30 bags of marijuana, which they started burned. They also had to climb on the roofs of the homes to bring down marijuana that was being dried on the iron sheets.
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Although Police claim their intention had been to sensitise the residents about the dangers of growing and selling marijuana, Maate said this was not possible as even the local leaders fled ahead of the Police operation. Men, women and children fled, fearing arrest.
Maate said that they would try to get in touch with the leaders to reassure them that no one would be arrested.
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Ngabirano Christopher, the Ruhiija sub county district councilor, says that they are trying to ask the locals to go back to their homes so that they can have their issues with the police solved.
Some of the residents who escaped from Ruhiija sub-county are allegedly hiding in Kabale town and have sworn not to return to the village until Police leaves the area.
Police is continuing with the burning of marijuana today. The operation is expected to end on Saturday.
