Stranded and unsure of their future, some of the dwellers from Kyesiiga Parish in Kyanamukaaka Subcunty, Masaka District, have sought refuge in the nearby woodlands.
The residents allege that the land, historically used by the community, has been fraudulently acquired by General Elly Kayanja, who they accuse of obtaining a land title for the site.
They claim the land is part of the National Forestry Authority (NFA) land.
“We have been using this land for generations. Suddenly, someone fences it off and tells us it’s no longer ours? This is unacceptable,” said one distraught resident.
Subcounty Chairperson Gordon Mayanja decried the loss of vital public facilities, including a government-provided community toilet and drying racks for fishermen.
“The fencing has left us with nowhere to go,” Mayanja said. “The fishermen cannot access their racks to dry silverfish, and the community no longer has a public toilet. This is an act of impunity.”
Mayanja called on the government to intervene and protect public resources from private acquisition.
Pastor Joan, whose church was also fenced off, expressed her disappointment and appealed to Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba to investigate.
“Our church was fenced off without any warning. This land belongs to the community, not an individual. We need the minister to look into this and explain how this title was issued,” Pastor Joan said.
The fishermen at the landing site are among the hardest hit, with no space left to dry their nets—a key aspect of their livelihood.
“This place has always been a public landing site,” a local fisherman noted. “It even has two polling stations. How did someone get a title for such a place?”
The fishermen have urged NFA to clarify whether it has started issuing land titles for forest reserve land.
The chairperson of the landing site denied any role in granting permission for the land acquisition, alleging that the documents used were forged.
“These documents are not legitimate,” the chairperson stated. “We have never authorised any individual to take over this land.”
General Kayanja, however, insists that he legally acquired the title and plans to use the area for development.
“I followed all the necessary procedures to acquire the land. My intention is to develop the landing site, not to harm the community,” Gen Kayanja said.
NFA’s representative in Masaka, Robert Mubhokisa, dismissed Kayanja’s claims, asserting that the land remains under NFA jurisdiction.
“This land belongs to the National Forestry Authority. We have not issued any title for it, and we urge the government to investigate this matter thoroughly,” Mubhokisa said.
Residents have vowed to keep fighting for their rights until their grievances are addressed.
“We want the authorities to take action. If this can happen here, it can happen anywhere,” Mayanja declared.
With the dispute unresolved, residents continue to endure hardships, hoping that intervention from higher authorities will restore their access to the critical facilities they have lost.