Residents accuse Hima Cement of grabbing their land

Over 1500 households in Mwello village, Mulanda sub-county in Tororo district are in fear of being thrown off their land after it was reportedly bought by Hima Cement.

The land in question sits on 1.6 square miles covering 1000 acres at Mwello village Mulanda Sub-county Tororo district.

The residents led by Geoffrey Oita Okoth and Henry Owor Achiel a member of Mwello Land Rights Association  petitioned the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire commission accusing Hima Cement Limited of using manipulative means to buy off land belonging them.

“The Jude clan and other two clans do carry out their cultural practices on Mwello Rock every year," said Henry Owor Achiel.

The residents told the commission that on several occasions they have tried to engage the cement company but without success.

"On 31st October 2016, we wrote a letter to the executive director Hima Cement through our lawyers but nothing has been done informing him about unlawful mineral exploration by Hima Company but nothing has ever been done,”  Owor said

He said instead of responding to their letter Hima started sending agents to buy land from vulnerable people through manipulative means, something that was against the exploration license given to it by government.

The commission said they will look into the matter.

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