Tension has once again escalated in Lyengoma village in Ntyazo-Lwemiyaga Sub-county, Sembabule District, after unknown assailants reportedly attacked residents, assaulted several people and burned down houses in a fresh wave of violence linked to a long-standing land dispute.
More than 100 families are currently sheltering in a church after attackers destroyed homes that some residents had only recently rebuilt following earlier evictions that occurred in 2023.
According to residents, the violence erupted between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday when a group of armed men reportedly stormed the area accusing locals of spearing one of their colleagues during an earlier confrontation.
Residents said the attackers threatened revenge and vowed to kill suspected villagers, triggering panic across the community.
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Victims say the attack forced many families, including women and children, to flee their homes and spend the night inside a church building.
They allege that the attackers later surrounded the church while searching for some of the displaced residents.
"They came at night and knocked on the church door saying there were some people they wanted to kill," said Florence Kyabalongo, one of the affected residents.
Several residents sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at different health facilities.
One of the victims, 35-year-old Moses Mushabe, was found admitted at Lwemiyaga Health Centre III in critical condition.
Mushabe said he was attacked in the early hours of the night while returning from Sembabule town where he had gone to visit his aunt.
According to Mushabe, he encountered a group of men armed with sticks and spears near Ntyazo Born Again Church, who allegedly beat him severely before demanding the PIN code to his mobile phone.
When he failed to provide the code, he said the attackers continued assaulting him and left him unconscious by the roadside.
Relatives later said police officers from Lwemiyaga Police Station transported him to hospital after receiving information from the village chairperson who found him lying injured.
Affected residents accused individuals linked to Chrisensio Mukasa Bagalukayo, who reportedly claims ownership of the disputed land, of being behind the attacks.
They also alleged that some security personnel attached to Lwemiyaga Police Station had been collaborating with the attackers.
"The officer lives in their family. That is where they stay and where they set off from to mistreat us on our land. They do everything under police escort," said resident Umar Kalanzi.
However, supporters of Bagalukayo denied involvement in the destruction of houses or attacks on residents. They instead claimed that they too had been attacked earlier while grazing cattle.
One of them, Enoch Nuwasasira, reportedly sustained a spear wound to the thigh during the confrontation.
Despite his injuries, Nuwasasira denied allegations that their group carried out retaliatory attacks or destroyed property belonging to residents.
Displaced families say they are now living in fear and worry that the attackers may return.
They appealed to government and Muhoozi Kainerugaba to deploy security forces in the area to restore calm and protect civilians.
"Recently our area was peaceful because government deployed the army, which restored order in the community. But during the presidential swearing-in preparations they were withdrawn, and that same night we were attacked again. Some of our colleagues are still in hospital with injuries," said resident Robert Nasasiira.
The latest violence prompted intervention from Capt. Padson Kamango, an officer in charge of criminal investigations from the Kasijjagirwa Armoured Brigade, who visited the area alongside security personnel in an attempt to calm tensions and investigate the allegations.
During the operation, one soldier identified only as Okeng reportedly told residents that their mission in the area was primarily to provide protection to Bagalukayo and that broader intervention would depend on instructions from senior commanders.
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The land conflict in Lyengoma has persisted for several years and has repeatedly displaced residents through violent attacks, night raids and destruction of property.
Recently, presidential anti-corruption aide Rebecca Atwine visited the area to investigate the dispute and directed residents to return to the contested land as authorities sought a peaceful resolution.
Despite that directive, residents say insecurity has continued, with allegations that crops have been destroyed and livestock attacked since families returned to the land.
Residents are now calling on President Yoweri Museveni to personally intervene and restore security in the area.
They are also demanding the reinstatement of military deployment, arguing that the withdrawal of soldiers who had earlier restored calm created a security vacuum that allowed violence to resume.
