NEWS- The Rukungiri high court resident judge Tom chemutia has directed the office of the Rukungiri District Resident Commissioner- RDC to make a detailed report concerning all areas in Ruhinda Sub County where wetland restoration was enacted including all the property that people claim to have lost during the process.
Chemutia made the order on Friday, September 13th 2024 while conducting his lucus visit to different areas where the Rukungiri district environment and water offices restored wetlands that led the community members to seek legal action accusing the implementers of destroying their property some of which were not in the said demarcated land.
The judge added that the RDC must organize meetings with residents to see how he can be helped to make a well detailed report that must be submitted to the high court before 12th December 2024 before the court resumes their proceedings in this case.
Cue in…………Chemutai on RDC
The Rukungiri Resident district commissioner Stephen Nsubuga Bewayo thanked Judge Chemutai for accepting a Lucas visit to Ruhinda Sub County to assess some areas where restoration took place. Bewayo promised to take up the matter together with the affected residents as per the Judge’s advice so that they make a well detailed report on their issues that shall be submitted to court.
Cue in……………Bewayo on decision
Counsel Arinaitwe Peter, the managing partner of Counsel Arinaitwe Peter and co –advocates, leading the legal team for the residents, hailed the Resident judge for accepting to visit the area which will give him a way in ruling on this case.
Arinaitwe added that this step will make residents get justice since they already have proof that there was mismanagement of funds allocated for compensation during the restoration.
He expressed concern that despite the release of the said funds, residents never received any coin or allowed a chance to bargain and that the less privileged were mostly affected during this process at the expense of the elites.
Cue in……………Arinaitwe on judge
Residents who met the resident judge and other leaders however expressed dissatisfaction with some district leaders who cut his visit short and never allowed him a chance to visit some crucial areas where illegal restoration was done and residents wanted him to bench mark from there.
Cue in………. Residents on areas
