Over 3000 forest encroachers on Kangombe central forest reserve in Nyamarunda sub-county Kibaale District are stranded at various trading centers, after being evicted by the National Forestry Authority and the Kibaale District forest encroachment task force.
The evictees, mainly of Rwandese origin and immigrants from Kisoro have been occupying the 11,000 hectares of Kangombe central forest reserve for the last three years.
Samuel Kisembo, The Resident District Commissioner Kibaale, said these have been warned on several occasions to vacate forest reserve but they remained adamant.
Several evictees who comprise of children and women have pitched camp at various primary schools, churches and verandas at Muziizi town ship in Nyamarunda sub-county seeking assistance from government and political leaders.
They say they are in dire need of food and bedding materials.
Reports also emerged this week that one of them had died of hunger.
However, the Kibaale district leaders are divided and giving parallel directives on the issue of the stranded people.
This was observed yesterday as leaders addressed the angry residents.
Matia Kasaija, The Finance Minister and Buyanja county MP constituency that covers the biggest portion of the forest that they had occupied, distanced himself from the development.
Kasaija, said Police deployment in the area is to keep law and order and added that the Ministry of disaster preparedness and refugees will provide relief aid to the affected.