George Rwakabisha
Sources
Fred Mwawula, Ramu Ndahimana, Samuel Kusiima, Martin Munyansia, Martin Haweka, Amos Wafula, Eliot Talemwa, George Rwakabisha, Muloni Wanjala and Pamela Mulongo are land rights defenders from Kiryandongo district in Uganda. They mobilise local communities to defend their land rights particularly when facing forced evictions reportedly perpetrated by private companies including Agilis Partners, Great Season Company Limited and Kiryandongo Sugar Limited, which have been implementing farming projects in the area. On 4 September 2020, Fred Mwawula went to the office of Great Season Company Limited in Kiryandongo to ask for the return of his three goats and was arrested by police officers guarding the premises. Police officers allegedly used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse demonstrators arrived at the premises to ask for his release. Some were also reportedly beaten by police officers and company workers. During the demonstration, police officers arrested Ramu Ndahimana, Samuel Kusiima, Martin Munyansia, Martin Haweka, Amos Wafula, Eliot Talemwa, Muloni Wanjala and Pamela Mulongo, and transferred them to Kiryandongo police station, along with Fred Mwawula. On 7 September 2020, seven workers of Great Season Company Limited and three police officers entered the garden of George Rwakabisha while he was with other community members. George Rwakabisha and the community members were reportedly beaten by the company workers, and the defender was arrested by police. The land rights defender was detained in a cell in Kiryandongo police station with the eight defenders arrested on 4 September 2020. The land rights defenders were released on bail on 8 September 2020, and on 17 September 2020, they were charged with threatening violence for allegedly threatening to harm a police officer and workers of Great Season SMC limited.