The contested land is estimated at an average size of about 2.5 acres, covering plots 76, 78, 79 and 82. It had been fenced off on Wednesday night, evoking a fight in which NAFIRRI officials uprooted the poles from the land on Thursday.
Officials from the National Fisheries Resource Research Institute- NAFIRRI have blocked investors from fencing their staff quarters located in Magwa crescent, in Jinja city.
The contested land is estimated at an average size of about 2.5 acres, covering plots 76, 78, 79 and 82. It had been fenced off on Wednesday night, evoking a fight in which NAFIRRI officials uprooted the poles from the land on Thursday.
Fred Wanda, a scientist with NAFIRRI said that they acquired a freehold title on the same land in 2008.
Although officials from the Uganda Land Commission declined to comment on the matter, available documents indicate that they granted a freehold title to National Agriculture Research Organization-NARO in 2008 which later donated the same to NAFIRRI.
Wanda says that the land which houses part of their staff quarters was acquired for research purposes.
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Emmanuel Basa, another scientist says that several people have come up to claim ownership of the same land, creating uncertainty on the safety of those occupying it. Basa argues that the state should prevail over land-grabbers and protect its’ entities from embarrassment.
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However, Paul Nabugere, who had fenced off the land says that he acquired a title for the same land in 2019, but has been frustrated by NAFIRRI and the National Agricultural Research Organisation-NARO. However, it remains unclear how Nabugere secured a leasehold title of 49 years on the same land in the absence of the District Land Board minutes recommending the acquisition.
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Kiira region police spokesperson Abbey Ngako says that the police have advised the several people are claiming ownership of the same land to seek court redress.
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Another individual claiming ownership of the same land who spoke to us on condition of anonymity to speak freely says that he had applied for a lease on two plots but he was shocked to find other parties fencing it off.
