Citizens ask Parliament to stop giveaway of public ranches
Long-horned Ankole cattle in Aswa Ranch, Pader District. PHOTO BY JULIUS OCUNGI
Kampala- Concerned citizens have implored Parliament to reverse the allotment of 72,650 acres of land in public ranches by two ministries to questionable investors.
They say the allotment is against Section Six of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, which says Parliament must authorise transactions on public land.
The local governments, they add, were not consulted, and thus, allocating the land could spark land conflicts in the areas where the land is located.
“We have learnt…that, in total contempt of legal procedures, the ministry of Lands…together with the ministry of Agriculture…, purportedly upon a presidential directive, have granted leases to certain companies,” the petitioners say through a July 6 letter to Parliament.
“We reject… this takeover of these public lands and ranches that is being advanced by certain public officials and government entities.”
According to letters seen by this newspaper, on May 22, Lands minister Betty Amongi, State minister for Animal Industry Joy Kabatsi and the chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission, Mr Baguma Isoke, among other officials, recommended some individuals and companies for allotment of the land in ranches to breed long-horned cattle Ankole and fatten cattle for beef. Seventeen entities are to benefit.
Affected ranches
The ranches to be affected are Nshaara, Aswa, Maruzi, NARO Nakyesesa, Ruhengyere, Lusenke and Njeru.
Beneficiaries. They are Gravity Investment Limited, Mr Emmanuel Kamihingo, Mr Barnabas Tikamanyire, Mr Eric Rutahigwa, Ankole Long-horned Cattle Breeders Cooperative Society and Amos Dairies. The others are Ji Xia Jia of Hibyishengyuan Company Limited, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank, Palm Oil Project, NARO, Palm Oil Outgrowers, Brentec for Livestock Vaccines Sasini Limited and Mr Ahmed Altigani from UAE.
