Over 150 farmers in Kitswamba Sub-county in Kasese District have written to the Attorney General threatening to drag the government to court for grabbing their land.

In a notice dated October 28, the farmers, through Sibendire, Tayebwa and Company Advocates, are accusing the government of grabbing 212 acres of land and giving it to pastoralists in the ongoing Basongora pastoralists' resettlement exercise in the district. "Take note that the conduct of government agents by unlawfully evicting the intended plaintiffs from their land, destroying their crops was unreasonable and unacceptable," the notice further reads.

The notice says Kasese District land board granted a lease offer of 158 acres to the Rwentale and Kayanja Agricultural Association for 49 years in 2000. The same board gave Mr Adam Muhereza a lease offer under the same terms and conditions.

The farmers led by their association chairperson Eryeza Bitheyo said Police acting on orders of RDC James Mwesigye evicted them and gave the land to Basongora pastoralists who have since occupied it under guard from police and the army.

They claim that they have since lived in a camp adjacent to their land with no food, shelter and health facilities. The farmers claim although they legally acquired the lease offer in 2000, they obtained that land under customary tenure system long ago in 1980s.

They said when they approached the district land board to renew their lease, they were told the land had been reverted to them by law and were advised to apply for free-hold instead. They were also asked to keep paying ground rent to show their interest in the land and avoid it being taken away, which they kept doing.

The farmers are demanding over Shs500million from the government in compensation for the lost land, destroyed crops and general damages.