Encroachers demolished as URC reclaims Kampala–Kasese railway corridor

Heavy security forces comprising the Police Field Force Unit and Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) enforcement officers yesterday descended on Madanda Village, Kyengera Town Council in Wakiso District, marking the start of a massive nationwide operation to evict thousands of people occupying railway reserve land.

Unlike previous enforcement operations characterized by tear gas and live ammunition, yesterday’s exercise along the Kampala–Kasese railway line proceeded smoothly. The task force enforced eviction notices in accordance with a government directive issued two weeks ago. Among the structures brought down during the operation was a shrine belonging to a local traditional healer in Bataka-Nabbingo, which was set ablaze during the clearance.

The exercise marks the commencement of a broader national campaign targeting individuals and commercial entities that have established homes, shops, and agricultural developments within railway reserves and station grounds. URC is enforcing a mandatory 60-metre-wide corridor, requiring all occupants to vacate 30 metres on either side of the track.

The enforcement has sparked panic and frustration among affected residents. Many claim they were not given sufficient time to pack their belongings, while others are demanding financial compensation.
"We have asked them to give us some time to remove our property because, as you can see, the area is heavily built up," one affected resident pleaded during the demolition. "We want them to give us time so we can take away our property before they proceed with the demolition."

However, URC has rejected claims of inadequate notice. URC spokesperson John Ssegendo stated that yesterday’s operation follows years of warnings, including an eviction notice issued in 2022 that many encroachers chose to ignore.
"Those who are saying that they were informed on short notice are not telling the truth," Mr. Ssegendo said, adding that URC’s primary goal is to clear the entire corridor from Kyengera to Kasese, passing through Mityana, Mubende, Kamwenge, and Kasese districts.
Addressing demands for compensation and relocation, Mr. Ssegendo clarified that public funds would not be used to compensate illegal occupants on railway land.
"Only people affected by projects funded by the African Development Bank, covering railway improvements from Kampala to Port Bell and the Kampala–Namanve–Jinja corridor, qualify for resettlement," he explained.

In an official public notice issued on Monday, URC announced that the operation will extend to several other key railway corridors across the country, including the Tororo–Gulu, Gulu–Pakwach, Busoga Loop, Butiaba, and Masindi routes. The corporation has also ordered all unauthorized occupants on railway station land nationwide to vacate the entire perimeter of station properties immediately.
Reclaiming railway reserves is vital to Uganda’s infrastructure modernization agenda. Over the years, extensive encroachment along railway tracks has hampered maintenance, compromised safety, and blocked planned rehabilitation works intended to boost freight transport, ease pressure on national highways, and lower regional logistics costs.

Although URC has not yet specified the exact number of households or business premises affected—nor disclosed the total estimated cost of recovering the land—the corporation reiterated that the clearance is essential for restoring safe and reliable rail transport. URC maintained that while enforcement will remain firm, the operation will be conducted with fairness and respect for the affected communities.