Elders Forum in Tooro, accuse Kyegegwa district leaders of inciting people to attack the former king

The Elders Forum in Tooro, under their umbrella Isaazi ly'Abaantu Bakuru Ba Tooro, are accusing Kyegegwa district leaders led by Kyaka South Member of Parliament Jackson Kafuzi and William Byamukama Kisoke, the Kyegegwa district local council Chairperson, of inciting the people to attack the former kingdom prime minister, Stephen Irumba’s farm and slaughter his animals.

Recently, unknown people raided Irumba's ranch in Rwentuha Sub County, Kyegegwa district, killing five cows, and stealing two others.

The attack came hardly two weeks after the Government started the process of settling the long standing dispute between Irumba and the Office of the Prime Minister. In 2016, the office of the Prime Minister, through the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness settled hundreds of Ugandan returnees, who were repatriated from Tanzania, in Kyaka 1 refugee camp. Irumba claims that during the resettlement process, 200 acres of his 500-acre titled farm land was encroached on. In a press release signed by Professor Edward Rugumayo, the chairperson of the Elders Forum, the elders have urged the government to carry out investigations on the violence meted out to Irumba, noting that local leaders of Kyegegwa district are not concerned about Irumba's rights and that no suspects have been arrested and no investigations have been carried out so far. However when contacted, Kisoke denied inciting the locals to attack Irumba's farm. Asked why as a local leader he has remained quiet and no action has been taken ever since Irumba's farm was attacked, Kisoke said that it is the role of the security agencies to take action. Meanwhile, Benon Byamukama, the Kyegegwa District Police Commander, said that they are yet to carry out arrests on the suspects.