By Enos Masereka
High Court sitting in Fort portal has set the hearing date for the judgment between Kyabatukura land victims and Uganda wildlife authority to August 30-31 2023.
This was announced yesterday by his worship Ramathan, who presided over court on behalf of the high court Judge, Hon Justice Vincent Wagona.
Wagona had ruled with costs in favour of Kyabatukura land victims in a petition they filed against Uganda Wildlife Authority.
In his ruling last month, the high court Judge Hon Justice Vincent Wagona said without any claim or right, the game wardens and game rangers being agents of the first defendant sometime in 2001, attacked, injured and killed some of the petitioners while in their homes.
Justice Wagona ruled that during the bloody eviction, the petitioners made loses of property including crops on the formerly contested (20,000), twenty thousand acres of land located in Kyabatukura village, Rugendabara Parish in Kitswamba Sub-County, Kasese district.
He then awarded the petitioner two hundred million shillings as costs for the losses incurred during the forceful eviction.
The ruling further asked the defendant to gazette within 30 day the names of the affected farmers in a national daily from the date of his ruling, which was done.
Speaking to Kasese Guide Radio shortly after court session yesterday in Fort portal, the Chairperson Kyabatukura land victims, Mr. Luke Kiiza described the ruling as a relief to them, fair and a representation of justice, calling for calm among members but wait for court Judgement. Luke Kiiza on Judgement….
According to Kiiza, a total of 428 families consisting of about 5,000 persons were in 2001 evicted from Kyabatukura in Kistwamba sub-county of Kasese district after UWA claimed that the area was inside the boundaries of Kibaale National Park.
Counsel representing the plaintiff, Enoch Wahimba of James Ahebwa and co. advocates asked his clients to remain peaceful. Kibaale National Park was represented by Counsel, Reuben Ngene David. END.