Uganda, April 24 -- The Resident District Commissioner for Tororo has declined to endorse an eviction order affecting two extended families, citing a directive from State House to halt the process and investigate ownership claims.

Sadik Bategana said the court order, which he found in office after his predecessor Nickson Owole, seeks to evict hundreds of people from Amoni "A" cell, Asinge Ward in Malaba Town Council.

Bategana said he refused to sign off on the order after receiving instructions to institute a fact-finding exercise on a contested 3.2-acre piece of land.

"I'm here to implement a directive from my appointing authority and I want to read it vebative 'This is to direct your office (Resident District Commissioner) as head of...