Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has directed an immediate end to all evictions of lawful and bona fide land tenants across the east African country, the state-owned newspaper The New Vision reported on Wednesday.

Museveni warned of punitive action against magistrates or even judges who issue the land evictions, saying that no one is above the law.

"I will suspend a judge who concludes in illegal evictions and institute an inquiry," Museveni was quoted as saying.

He instructed all resident district commissioners to report all judicial officers who issue bogus eviction warrants to the Judicial Service Commission, the Principal Judge or the Chief Justice.

"Don't hide your lack of action behind the law because the law is very clear, it is on the side of the people. Defend your people;don't sit while your people are being oppressed," the president said.

Museveni also directed the police chief to punish officers involved in fraudulent evictions and to stop private security firms from taking part in evictions.

He said that though the country's land law had room for improvement, it provides the best solution to the country's land disputes which date back to colonial mistakes.

The president's directive comes at a time when there is increasing violent eviction of bona fide occupants and land tenants in the country. According to the country's land law, a bona fide occupant is any one who settled on land for 12 years or more before the coming into force of the country's 1995 Constitution and had not been challenged by the land lord to vacate.

Source: Xinhua