Uganda People's Defense Forces-UPDF has taken control of the oil refinery land in Kabaale parish Buseruka Sub County in Hoima district.
It follows a directive by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to the army to take immediate control of the oil. The Hoima Resident District Commissioner, John Stephen Ekoom, says UPDF has deployed a battalion at Nyahaira primary school to avert further encroachment on the oil refinery land by herdsmen and cultivators.
Last week, security operatives forcefully evicted a group of herdsmen and cultivators from the oil refinery land following the expiry of the ultimatum issued to them to vacate voluntarily in vain.
According to Ekoom, UPDF will conduct routine patrols on the oil refinery land and pick up whoever is found trespassing.
Government acquired the 29 square miles of the oil refinery land in 2012 to pave way for the construction works.
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