TOTALENERGIES SE When Mugisha Jealousy Mulimba learned that the government of
Mulimba told IPS that within days after the government's case against him and 41 other landowners in the oil-rich Uganda Albertine region was heard in
"It was the fastest trial that I have known of since my childhood. And more so that involving a case when the government sued its citizens," Mulimba told IPS.
"Justice
Mulimba and hundreds of the dependents of the 42 landowners are on the brink of homelessness, facing eviction for refusing to accept the unjust, unfair, and inadequate compensation by
The threat of forceful eviction of the landowners has been around for years. But this time, it appears to be imminent, with the government armed with an eviction order and determined that the oil, discovered in 2006, should be extracted by 2025.
"Unfortunately, we, the landowners, have been punished since 2018. And now, with their eviction order, they can do anything. But we are determined to die for our rights," said Fred Balikenda. The government applied and granted a specific order to have Balikenda evicted from his land in Kirama village.
"Each of us is going through the toughest times. You don't know when they will finally pounce or how they will treat us," said Balikenda
On
The government asked that it be discharged from any liabilities arising from any claim from the eviction order.
The "hurried ruling" in favor of the government raised eyebrows within the legal fraternity. In
"All the cases we filed against the government are still rotting in the courts. The same judiciary hears the case against us by the government in four days. Has the devil taken over our government? We are crying in our hearts, wondering who will help poor people like us," said Kwonka William Mugisa, another landowner.
A human rights lawyer,
"When a judge, oozing impunity, deliberately denies parties to a case/suit an opportunity/right to be heard, to contradict the evidence, to file their submissions, and hastily makes orders for the benefit of
Kiiza and other lawyers in January have tried to urge the
He, with the permission of the landowners, appealed the ruling to the
The Court of Appeal had not fixed the date for hearing the appeal petition at the time IPS was filing this report. Fearing that the government could go ahead with the eviction, Mulimba and four other aggrieved parties traveled to
Kwonka William told IPS that, going by the government's valuation report, he was being forced to accept an equivalent of about
Meanwhile, Mulimba, flanked by his wife, Pityedi Mugisa, told IPS that the government, through the court, is trying to force them to accept unfair compensation in the form of cash.
"The land is for the family. We asked for land in exchange. If they can find equivalent land, we are ready to leave. But we didn't ask for cash," said Mulimba.
The couple said they have attended scores of meetings demanding fair and adequate compensation but have been unsuccessful.
"We had been using that land for many years. We earned money for school fees from it. We get food from it and we got medical support from there," he said. "So, we are not fighting the government but we are fighting for our rights to be respected."
Dickens Kamugisha, a lawyer and Chief Executive of the
"Instead of ensuring fair and adequate compensation, they are now using the court. Knowing that these people cannot get the best lawyers to represent them, knowing that they cannot influence the courts. So the government is filing those cases to get those rulings that they want to use to evict the people," he said.
Kamugisha said AFIEGO supported the oil refinery-affected people in filing a case against the government of
"Nearly ten years later, hearings on the case have yet to be concluded. That is an injustice. And where there is injustice, you cannot have a settlement that is coming from negotiations," he asserted.
Besides, Kamugisha told IPS that no law provides that the government can go ahead to acquire land and deposit the landowner's compensation in court.
"In 2021, the judiciary illegally allowed the government to deposit the households' compensation in court. This set a bad precedent that should never be repeated. It is also sad that the government has continued to use and misuse courts to destroy citizens' right to own property and/or get adequate compensation," Stated Kamugisha.
As the landowners wait for the
"That is mainly happening here in Kasinyi, Ngwedo Center, and Kisimo villages, where most of us live. Someone comes and parks a motorcycle or car at your land and then drives away. Isn't that intimidation?" another landowner said
According to Global Witness, evidence from its undercover investigation in
"In a handful of instances, the state authorities appeared to be in communication with
IPS learned from some of the employees at
There are also reports that
But Kamugisha said it is
"It is unfortunate that Total is saying they are bringing here an independent investigator. They are bringing an investigator at a time when they are working with the government to get eviction orders. How is that investigator going to be helpful?"
Copyright 2024 Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)., source
