Brigadier General Peter Nabaasa of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces has again evicted residents of the disputed land in Hoima defying multiple directives from the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Lands Minister Judith Nabakoba and State Minister for Lands Dr. Sam Mayanja to stop these evictions.
On February 08, 2026, on the alleged orders of the UPDF General, several soldiers and a gang of civilians armed with machetes raided the contested land in Kapapi village in Hoima district in Western Uganda and chased away all the over 1,000 Bibanja holders, who had been resettled on their land by Minister Mayanja a few months ago. The soldiers fired live ammunition in the air as residents were chased. Meanwhile, the residents’ houses were burnt and plantations destroyed by the raiders.
The frustrated residents were first evicted on February 10, 2023 at 1:00 am. More than 2,500 bonafide occupants of Waaki North, Kapapi Central, Waaki South, Runga, and Kiryatete villages in Kapapi and Kiganja sub-counties, Hoima district were forcibly evicted. Witness Radio, a Ugandan non-profit organization comprised of human rights investigative journalists, lawyers, and social workers, reported that many people were wounded during the eviction, women were raped, and houses were destroyed. Dozens of local farmers who were evicted were also arbitrarily arrested and slapped with criminal charges.
Investigations by Witness Radio indicate that the evictions reportedly occurred to clear the path for the Tilenga feeder pipeline, part of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). In 2022 Kapapi community members’ land was surveyed for the Tilenga pipeline and people were informed they would be compensated for the land.
However, TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) and EACOP Ltd denied sponsoring the land evictions. The two companies also distanced themselves from the disputed land. The oil companies further denied that the evictees were Tilenga or EACOP Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
The land in question covers over 900 to 1,200 hectares and is claimed by several individuals, with residents asserting they are lawful bibanja (tenancy) holders who should have been compensated. The disputed land is situated at the shores of Lake Albert adjacent to the Kabaale parish in Buseruka Sub-county where the Greenfield oil refinery is to be established. In April 2018, the government selected the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium (AGRC) as the private sector investment to finance, develop, construct, and operate the Greenfield oil Refinery estimated to cost $4b.
Nevertheless, in 2023, acting on the orders of then DPC and Gen Nabaasa, along with armed guards from Magnum, a private security company, at least 500 families were thrown off the disputed land. According to the community leaders John Ucowun and Salvatore Ukumu, the eviction team—comprising of police officers and private guards burnt homes and killed livestock.
On February 22, 2023, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Honorable Judith Nabakoba, while addressing a meeting in Rukola village Kapapi sub-county, Hoima district directed the security committee to return the evictees back to their land. She considered the eviction unlawful since it was conducted at night and without a court order.
To reinforce Nabakoba’s directive, in February 2026, in a meeting at the Hoima RDC’s offices presided over by the Lands Junior Minister Mayanja and attended by Gen Nabaasa, Senior Presidential Assistant Phiona Barungi, police and the evictees, it was resolved that the residents be resettled back on their land. Mayanja also overruled the UPDF officer’s claims that he owned a genuine sub-lease. “The sub-lease you are claiming to have got from Kiiza; Kiiza is a criminal who should be arrested,” the Minister confronted the UPDF officer.
In January 2026, Hoima RDC Rodgers Mbabazi stopped new, unannounced land surveying activities in the same area, which had caused further panic among residents regarding new eviction attempts.
In November 2025, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robbinah Nabbanja, announced firm government steps to permanently resolve the long-standing land conflict, promising to write an official letter allowing evictees to remain peacefully on the contested land as government expedites a lasting solution.
She further disclosed that the matter has already been presented to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for immediate action. According to the Prime Minister, government plans to utilize the Land Fund to compensate individuals claiming land ownership and holding titles. This, she noted, will ensure that the people of Kapapi are not displaced again.
Nabbanja urged residents to remain calm as government handles the matter, and directed area Members of Parliament to compile and submit all relevant details to speed up the resolution process.
