Kampala — The Chief Magistrate's Court in Fort Portal has ordered the eviction of 10 people, who have been illegally occupying land belonging to an LC3 chief.

The residents are said to have been encroaching on the 400-acre tea estate of the south division chairman in Fort Portal Municipality, Brian Kwebiha, for 12 years.

The land is located at Nyakarongo parish in Butiiti sub-county, Kyenjojo district.

Kwebiha, through his lawyers, Johnson Musana and Company Advocates, said the encroachers had put up permanent houses and farms on the land.

He added that he had contracted labourers to cut down the gardens and extend his tea plantation this rainy season.

After the ruling, the defendants cried, saying they had nowhere to go.

They also said they had not been compensated for their property.

Speaking to The New Vision, the encroachers said they were going to seek advice from the Kyenjojo resident district commissioner, Charles Mubiru.