By, Kinyera Anthony Lakomekec, Pader district, 26th January 2022. Ranchers occupying the Aswa ranch land were on Tuesday, 25th summoned by Pader district security committee, state house security officials and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to explain and clarify on the legality of their presence on the land.
The ranchers on the Aswa ranch include; The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) formally the Animal Breeding Centre (ABC), Banuti ranchers, among others termed as "Balalo."
Barnabas Nuwamanya, a rancher with the Banuti while presenting their documents, said that the land in question was leased for 99 years by the Uganda Land Commission to NAGRC & DB in 1967 covering a thousand hectares in both Lamwo, Kitgum and Pader districts.
According to Nuwamanya, NAGRC & DB leased 10 square miles of the land to Banuti for 50 years, and they have the right to put court injunctions on whoever encroaches the land.
Justine Ocen, Pader district vice chairperson said that Aswa land issue has become a big question to the Acholi since Uganda Livestock Limited got it on leased hold in 1967. He however places his concern on how the leasehold changed to freehold under different entities.
Pader LCV Sound bites.. English
James Ocaya, secretariat of the operation and a commissioner of police stated that they are following a directive given by the president to evict all the illegal occupants of government lands especially the nomads (Balalo). He added that no one is above the president’s directive to be evicted as long they are illegally on the land.
James Ocaya Sound bites.. English
Brig. Gen. Phillip Mugarura, zonal commander in charge of the operation in Lamwo, Kitgum and Pader districts stated that he is happy with the response of the Banuti ranchers though more needs to be assessed from the field to support the presented documents.
Phillip Mugarura Sound bites.. English
However, Emmanuel Okware, deputy resident district commissioner for Pader who was the chairing the summon asked to be given copies of the relevant documents to ascertain their validity as far as the Aswa ranch land issue is concerned.
According to chairperson, all the documents presented could not be validated if authentic though they seem. He further said that the teams will go on ground and find out other relevant facts on the matter.
Comentarios