Lira residents protest railway land demarcation

26 October 2026, 8:30 pm

By Dickens Aruca

More than 20 residents living along the railway line in Lira City East Division have raised concern over what they describe as unfair land demarcation by the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC).

Addressing journalists on Monday 26th October, 2026 at Lira Hotel in Lira City, Martin Onyaa, a representative of the affected residents, said they received a notice on October 7, 2026, directing them to vacate land belonging to URC along the Tororo–Lira–Gulu railway line and other routes.

Onyaa said the residents were concerned about a recent demarcation exercise by railway officials, which they claim extended beyond the previously agreed 30-metre boundary to approximately 60 to 70 metres in some areas.

He questioned why the demarcation reportedly extends more than 60 metres on one side of the railway line, while on the other side it measures only four metres.

Onyaa further alleged that the demarcation exercise was conducted without consulting the affected residents.

” I am not happy with the demarcation done without consulting the community members”

Tom Olyel, the LC1 vice chairperson of Baronger Central Cell, said a 30-metre boundary had existed for more than 20 years to separate railway land from civilian land, where roads had also been constructed.

Olyel said the residents were surprised when URC officials recently established a new boundary beyond the previous one. He added that they subsequently received a letter directing them to vacate the land or remove structures deemed to have been illegally erected on railway property.

He called for URC officials to clarify the new boundaries before any action is taken against the affected residents. He also appealed to Lira City authorities to intervene, revealing that they had raised the matter with their area Member of Parliament, Denis Alyela Omodi.

Meanwhile, Denis Alyela Omodi, the Member of Parliament for Lira City East Division, acknowledged receiving complaints from the affected residents.

Omodi said he visited the affected area alongside the residents and found that their concerns appeared to have some basis.

He said he would consider presenting the matter before Parliament, which is expected to debate the eviction of residents from railway land next week.

The legislator also emphasised the need for government to compensate affected residents where applicable.

The residents are now seeking URC’s clarification on the disputed boundaries and intervention from relevant authorities to resolve the matter before any evictions or demolition of structures take place.