Hoima vendors suffer losses as land dispute leads to violent eviction

Over three hundred individuals operating at Duhaga roundabout (Kidomole) market in Hoima City West Division are in tears and counting losses after a long-time land dispute led to violent evictions.

A couple of their food items and other merchandise were destroyed on Monday.

According to the affected vendors, the unlawful eviction, which was implemented by one of the city’s business tycoons identified as Francis Kabagambe and escorted by armed security forces, happened on Monday at around 5am.

The incident, which was accompanied by beating, destruction and stealing of vendors’ properties, left them counting losses worth millions of Ugandan shillings.

Over time, they said that there has been an underground dispute between the market vendors and Kabagambe, who claims the market is operating on his private land.

However, it has also been said that the current disputed land was given out to vendors by the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom (BKK) after the same vendors were displaced from Duhaga roundabout during the implementation of trade orders.

Alituha Jenet and other vendors expressed concerns over the illegal evictions, proposing that there should have been plans to avoid losses.

“They should have come and informed us if they needed their land back, other than ambushing and leaving our merchandise destroyed.”

Another vendor, Kaleem, also known as Bikongoro, mentioned that the traders were allocated the land by the Queen Mother of the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Omugo Margaret Karunga Adyeeri.

He is questioning why the businessman is now claiming ownership of the land, calling on the relevant authorities to resolve the dispute.

Vendors who spoke to our reporter said they are counting heavy losses and have appealed to the Hoima City authorities to intervene and help resolve the dispute.

Gahweera Fred, one of the traders, condemned the destruction of the vendors’ goods, saying the traders should have been given notice and allowed to vacate the land peacefully instead of having their merchandise destroyed.

Ssewanyana Karim, one of the injured vendors who got bruised on the knee, says he has incurred a huge loss in watermelons, tomatoes and cabbages.

The above, he said, were destroyed during the unplanned and unlawful eviction.

William Musinguzi, the chairperson of the Duhaga Roundabout Market Vendors, appealed to the government to intervene by providing them with a permanent market.

He said the traders are struggling because many have outstanding loans and their goods have been destroyed, leaving them uncertain about how they will repay the loans.

Suzan Ajuna, the women councillor for Western Ward, condemned the act, saying that such a motion destabilises people’s sources of livelihood.

She also advised the affected individuals to always carry out due diligence before reallocating to new places for market operations.

Julius Kyomuhendo, the mayor of Hoima City West Division, says they remain committed to digging out suspects to compensate for the damages.

Kyomuhendo said the city authorities were unaware of the operation and pledged that those responsible for the destruction of the traders’ property would be identified and arrested.

Badru Mugabi, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), in a meeting with the vendors, advised them to resume operations as they look for a way forward on the matter.

“As per the mandate of security on keeping people and their properties safe, we urge that you remain operational, for we shall provide you enough security to maintain the status quo of the place as we look into the matter.”

Mugabi, who also described the eviction as illegal, said security would meet with those claiming land ownership on the disputed lands.

According to him, this will give them another way to have verified eviction orders.

“We are going to have a security meeting with those claiming ownership of the land. This will help us understand the owner of the land, who will be required to seek eviction orders through court before throwing you off the place,” he said.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and businessman Kabagambe were unsuccessful by press time.