The allocation, facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB), and Uganda Land Commission, aims to support the former legislators' livelihoods through commercial agriculture.
Tension is mounting in Laguti Sub County,
Pader district, due to a government decision to allocate over 12 square miles
of land to former Members of Parliament. The allocation, facilitated by the
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), National Animal
Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB), and Uganda Land
Commission, aims to support the former legislators' livelihoods through
commercial agriculture.
The beneficiaries are former Members of Parliament affiliated
with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, under their umbrella Gravity
Grain Farmers, based in Kampala City. Their plan is to invest in grain
production in Laguti Sub County, with Engineer Yorokamu Katwiremu Bategana, a
former Sheema County South Member of Parliament, leading the group.
Accompanied by Pader security officials, the former MPs
inspected the land in Lakalanganya Village, Tumalyec Parish, Laguti Sub County,
Pader district last week. However, the ownership of the land is disputed, as
members of the community claim it as their own, while the government maintains
it is part of the Aswa Ranch, utilized for agriculture and food security by
NAGRC and Uganda Prisons Services.
A meeting was held two weeks ago with the Minister of State for
Animal Husbandry, Lt. Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama, and the Executive Director
for NAGRC to discuss the leasehold agreement with the government for grain
production.
Eng. Yorokamu confirmed this in a phone interview, mentioning that
the Uganda Land Commission will survey the land to establish its true
ownership, facing resistance from community members.
Robert Okumu, the Laguti Sub County LC III Chairperson,
expressed concern, suspecting the government's intention to grab land belonging
to the community. He questioned the deployment of soldiers and inspections
without involving local leaders or informing community members.
//Cue in: ‘’so my plea…
Cue out: …to Aswa
ranch,’’//
Following the community's discontent, they petitioned Bosco
Odoch Olak, the Presidential Coordinator for the Northern Region, seeking the
President's intervention.
//Cue in: ‘’President has already…
Cue out: …Mzee, the
President.’’//
Odoch assured the residents that a survey team would be
dispatched to demystify the boundary conflict, and security measures would be
enhanced.
Samuel Odonga Otto, the former Aruu County legislator, and
lawyer, urged the government to respect the law and adhere to agreements made
during the land's initial allocation in the 1980s.
Emmy Daniel Ojara
Freelancer