Friday, July 4, 2025
UG Standard - Latest News
  • Home
  • News
    • DIPLOMACY
    • COURT
    • AFRICA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • INTERVIEW:
    • National
    • Parliament
    • World
    • Regional
  • Business
    • AGRIBUSINESS
    • OIL & GAS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECH
    • INNOVATIONS
    • TELCOM
  • OpED
  • EDUCATION
  • INVESTIGATION
    • NATIONAL ARCHIVE
    • SPECIAL REPORT
    • ANALYSIS
  • FEATURES
    • SOCIETY
    • Community
    • Pictorial
    • PROFILES
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • ENVIRONMENT
  • Tours & Travel
    • Hotel & Hospitality
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Login
UG Standard - Latest News
ADVERTISEMENT

SPOTLIGHT: Controversy, panic in Northern Uganda as govt opens defunct ranches for large food production

by OUR REPORTER | UG STANDARD
20/09/2022
in News
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tractor operating in Got Apwoyo farm in Nwoya district (PHOTO /Courtesy)

Residents in Pader and Nowya districts are protesting, what they have since described as ‘widespread opening of farms’ by the government on land under disputes.

At least three sub counties of Laguti, Angagura and Ajan in Pader district with over 15 villages are being affected the latest development— leaving thousands of households squatters.

Related posts

Tororo leaders hail Lady Justice Sarah Langa for her Dedication,Mentorship and Integrity

29/06/2025
268
Bishop Lwere with some of the Judicial officers who participated in the Prayer Breakfast.

Bishop Lwere warns Judicial officers against Corruption

28/06/2025
170
Minister , Gen David Muhoozi addressing the gathering at Golf Course Hotel on Thursday. (Courtesy photo)

Violence free elections is everyone’s responsibility – Minister Muhoozi

27/06/2025
167
Women Coffee farmers

Women Coffee Farmers Demand Recognition and Support

26/06/2025
158

Meanwhile in Nwoya, one of the villages with more than 500 homesteads
now confused after their homes and gardens have been taken up by the farms, according to the area LC1, Robert Komakech.

Hannington Mwa, 96, former field staff of Uganda Livestock Industries during the inception of Aswa Ranch is one of the over 1,000 projected affected persons who claims his land have been curved in, in the new extended boundaries.

“We have always demanded NAGRC and Uganda Livestock Industries to come and explain to us why they decided to put mark stones on our land but nobody came. Like for me, they have put mark stones on my land and yet the boundary does not reach my land. Why?” the 96 year old cried.

The locals say they are not against the development the government is bringing to the area however they are disgusted by the illegal extension of the boundaries into their land.

The affected villages include Burlobo, Bira, Koyo, Ajan, Pilil, I in, Paibworo, Lapono, Lagotoywec, Lubala, Pabit, Pungole, Lakalangaya, Aringoyon among others. The land under contention is said to be in Aswa Ranch but the locals argue that it has encroached on the land of the communities.

 

Shea trees destroyed during opening the farm in Angagura Subcounty in Pader disstrict

Pader

The development caught the district leaders and community unaware,
Mr. Robert Okumu, the LC3 Laguti Subcounty in an interview said.

“I got a call from the locals after they saw a fleet of vehicles in the community, I had to rush there. Indeed I found a team led by NAGRC handing over 30,000 acres of land to Uganda Prison Service for farming,” Okumu stated.

Okumu maintains that the land given to Uganda Prison Services does not belong to Aswa Ranch as NAGRC claims.

“But the boundary of Aswa ranch never crosses river Ajan on the eastern side. Now I wonder how come the government begins to give out community land to agencies just like that without following proper procedures” Okumu Robert LC3 Laguti says.

Few years ago, Pader District Council earlier passed a resolution to make sure that the boundaries of Aswa be opened from the community before any activities commenced.

But Julius Nyeko, the senior land officer for Pader district said the exercise never commenced because the effort to bring on board the team from responsible ministries and agencies was not given attention.

He says they had planned to open the boundary of Aswa Ranch and the community together with the ministry by comparing documents, involving witnesses and surveyors to end the dispute of boundaries.

“We wanted the two documents that is the leasehold and land title given in 1968 and the map with the coordinates and the documents obtained in 2016 for freehold and the survey for us so that we compare the maps and it’s coordinates whether they matches and whether complain of the community are genuine, ” Nyeko states.

But, before the demarcation could happen, to iron out the dispute, work had already started and Nyeko maintained that his office and that of the Subcounty land committee were not contacted on any development taking place.

In a telephone interview, Margaret Orik Obonyo, the Regional Prison Commander for Northern Uganda confirmed receiving 30,000 acres in Pader district from NAGRC for farming beans, soybeans and maize.

An elder point to original land mark demarcating Aswa ranch and Community land

Cultural Leaders vow

Oywelo Picho, the Clan Chief of Ariya argues that much as people love the government in power, it’s clear the people President Museveni uses to implement government programs are disrespectful of the rights of the common man.

He says much as a government has the privileges to put any development programs in any community, the government must follow the rights approaches that don’t infringe on the rights of its citizens.

Oywelo argues that the NRM government whom they are dying to support is the same government which is making life hard for its citizens on their land. Amin grabbed this land forcefully and set up a Libyan ranch but when Museveni came to power, he gave back the land to the community. [in the Constitutional amendment of 1995], he recalled.

“If you [Government] want to work in harmony on this land, then you need to cooperate with the community because you cannot say this is a government program, which we are the bonafide government and again you begin to threaten and intimidate us! ”the Clan chief Ariya warned.

Judith Peace Acan, the Nwoya Woman Member of Parliament who is also in shock on how the programs entered his constituency, warns against discrimination against being shown to the vulnerable affected persons and seniors citizens owning land within the project areas.

“They ploughed the western side toward the Nile, but skipped the middle section and right now they are opening more land on the eastern side. Why is it being done selectively? Imagine, they left the land of a Bishop and two higher ranking UPDF officers in the middle untouched and yet these portions are within the project areas as we see. So, they are targeting to remove the vulnerable poor persons from their land, which I will not accept.” Acan said

NAGRC speaks out

Dr. Peter Beine, Executive Director National Animal Genetic Research Center and Data Bank (NAGRC), on Saturday 17th at the site in Got Apwoyo says they are implementing Cabinet resolutions to secure food and animal feeds for the country and their work is unstoppable.

Dr Peter Beine, ED NAGRC & DB

“This is season dependent and we cannot have any delay because the productions are for food and animal feeds which depend on the rain. So, we are having a bad time. More land is being opened and planting of seeds has already begun in some parts so that we can catch up with the season since the rain will soon be going.” Dr Beine stated.

President Museveni in a letter July 14th 2022, directed the whole government starting from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance to implement the activities. This follows a letter by Minister of MAAIF, Frank Tumwebaze dated July 13th to President Museveni demanding for the deliberate intervention to boost food production in the country.

On the August 1st, Cabinet meeting at State House Entebbe chaired by President Museveni, a resolution was approved to boost food and animal feed security in the country.

The intervention is informed by the national outlooks of food security across the country as of July 2022 put Karamoja region at 41 percent as food insecure, Teso 21.4 percent food insecure, Acholi/Lango/Wetsnile 19.4 percent food insecure, Buganda 17.7 percent food insecure, Rwenzori 6.3 percent food insecure and Bunyoro/Ankole/Kigezi 4.2 percent.

According to the resolutions, food insecurity in the country is contributed by factors including unpredictable weather, drought, pests and disease outbreaks, the effect of Covid 19, limited supply and availability of fertilizers due to the Russia-Ukraine war and limited access to irrigation facilities.

The commodities that will be promoted with attendant acreages include maize (114,219 acreages), soya beans (59 acreages) beans (22,810 acreages) sorghum (2,72o acreages) totaling up to 224,640, the resolution revealed.

The resolutions also indicated that agencies including Uganda Prison Services will cultivate 50,000 acres, UPDF 10,000 acres, NEC 5,280 acres, Veterans 4,707 acres, NARO 10,000 acres. Others include NAGRC & DB 30,000 acres, and large scale farmers 314,000 acres. These government agencies will get grants meanwhile large scale private farmers will receive interest fee loans.

In Nwoya, Dr Biene notes that NAGRC is planting beans, maize and soya beans on 5 square miles of plantation, another 28sq mile in Pader, meanwhile Uganda Prison Services will cultivate 30,000 acres in Aswa Ranch.

Similar activities are also ongoing in Kasore farm in Kamuli district, Kaseke farm in Kayunga district, Maruzi ranch in Apac, and Ishanga ranch is western Uganda according to the Executive Director NAGRC & DB.

However Dr Beine further notes that the program has started facing hiccups from encroachers on government land.

“We have had challenges with a few people who have encroached on government land and we have sensitized them and told them to pave the way for the program to continue,” he said.

 

Engineer Ssenozi Robert who represented the Chairman Board NAGRC while speaking to the angry people of Got Apwoyo whose homestead have been swallowed by the farms, assures the Project Affected Persons that they will not stop the ongoing activities because they are operating under instructions.

 

“We have a letter that says please proceed with this program. If we are to proceed, we have to work with the community but our request to them is to allow us to continue, because this work is season dependent. We are not taking away the land; the land is remaining for the Ariya Community.” Engineer Ssenozi emphasized.

 

In Pader district, several homesteads and people’s gardens have however been left bare in the farm land after machinery has cleared their surroundings. Several grass thatched huts were also seen left in the open in the middle of the farmland rendering it vulnerable to wind. Besides that, countless stems of endangered Shea trees in Angagura have been felled during bush clearing and ploughing.

 

Nonetheless, Dr Beine maintains that their operation has clear instructions including environmental consciousness and also prohibits them from destroying people’s gardens and houses. He said, they will only open land for farming, and they will not bring down houses and properties of whoever they found on the land but those opting to vacate their home, will do it at will.

Meanwhile in Pader, Santa Okot MP Pader Aruu South is collecting signatures and evidence to table the prolonged boundary dispute between Aswa Ranch and Community before Parliament.

She says what NAGRC and other agencies are doing in her constituency are not procedurally correct. She has since given up to two weeks ultimatum to MAAIF to respond to the complaints of land grabbing.

Santa vows to take the government to court if they fail to attend to the grievances of the people affected by the projects.

Share this:

  • Share
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Tags: Dr Peter BeineED NAGRC & DBFeaturedNational Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC & DB) and the National Agriculture Research OrganisationNwoyaPaderUganda Prisons Services

Related Posts

 Abbas urges U.S. to compel Israel to stop violations against Palestinians
News

 Abbas urges U.S. to compel Israel to stop violations against Palestinians

05/11/2022
0
305

Abbas urges U.S. to compel Israel to stop violations against Palestinians RAMALLAH, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas...

Read moreDetails
Equity ranked 4th strongest banking brand globally on brand strength, scoring 92.4 points out of 100

 Equity Bank Under Scrutiny for Alleged Role in UGX.3bn Fake Gold Scam

09/07/2024
618
Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng and Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwiine pay their respects at the burial of Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, a champion in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Their presence honors his legacy and dedication to improving healthcare in Uganda.

 FULL LIST: Health Service Commission Shortlists Applicants for Key Roles

18/06/2025
1k
Kabuleta and other opposition politicians have teamed up to put an end to Museveni's leadership

 Kabuleta, other opposition politicians team up to put an end to Museveni’s leadership

27/02/2024
497
Load More

Popular Articles

  • Check out the top schools with pupils who scored 6 in 4 aggregates in the 2024 PLE results, as released by UNEB

    PLE 2024 Results: Top Schools with 6 in 4 Aggregates

    4364 shares
    Share 1746 Tweet 1091
  • How to Renew Your National ID Online: NIRA Pre-Registration Portal 2025 Guide

    3942 shares
    Share 1577 Tweet 986
  • NIRA unveils high-tech National ID, mass enrollment set to begin

    2662 shares
    Share 1065 Tweet 666
  • FULL LIST: Ministry of Education, NCDC publish self-study workbooks amid COVID-19 lockdown

    3323 shares
    Share 1348 Tweet 823
  • How to Check PLE Results 2024 on Phone, Online

    1783 shares
    Share 713 Tweet 446
  • PLE 2024 Results: UNEB Clarifies on Release Date

    1650 shares
    Share 660 Tweet 413
  • MPs clear govt to cancel 2020 academic year

    2796 shares
    Share 1150 Tweet 686

Recent Articles

Deo Akope

June Real Stars Awarded

03/07/2025

Hon. Kasolo nominated for NRM Vice Chairperson, Buganda Region

03/07/2025
Sandra Nabakka, Day Light Solar Energies

Day Light Solar Energies selected for The Safe Water Accelerator 2025

03/07/2025
George William Kiyingi, PostBank's Head of Agent Banking and Fintech Distribution, highlights how the Wendi digital wallet has surpassed UGX 1 trillion in PDM disbursements

Wendi Digital Wallet surpasses UGX 1 Trillion in PDM disbursements

03/07/2025
Mr. Richard Baguma addressing participants.

Government urged to prioritize Health sector in SDG 3

03/07/2025

Kakuru pledges to amplify voices of entrepreneurs after historic nomination

02/07/2025
Sheila Agaba (centre), the Business Manager at the Stanbic Business Incubator Limited, posing for a photo with other stakeholders at the event

Stanbic partners with GIZ to support women in green businesses in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania

02/07/2025

Recent CommentsRecent Comments

  • The Journey of Ibrahim TraorĂ© on How President Ibrahim TraorĂ©’s ambitious vision is driving Burkina Faso’s economic growth push
  • Ugandan Scientists Finalists For European Inventors Prize — Press Uganda on Ugandan scientists finalists for European inventors prize
  • Government Pumps UGX1 Trillion Into UDB To Drive Industrialization, SME Growth — Press Uganda on Government pumps UGX1 Trillion into UDB to drive Industrialization, SME growth
  • PS Ggoobi Tips On Building USD 500b Economy — Press Uganda on PS Ggoobi tips on building USD 500b economy
  • Museveni Meets German Envoy Matthias Schauer After Subversion Claims — Press Uganda on Museveni meets German envoy Matthias Schauer after subversion claims

UG Standard - Latest News

UG Standard, published via www.ugstandard.com isa publication of Sahel Media Solutions Ltd, a professional Digital/New Media company in Uganda info@ugstandard.com

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • June Real Stars Awarded
  • Hon. Kasolo nominated for NRM Vice Chairperson, Buganda Region
  • Day Light Solar Energies selected for The Safe Water Accelerator 2025
  • Wendi Digital Wallet surpasses UGX 1 Trillion in PDM disbursements
  • Government urged to prioritize Health sector in SDG 3
  • Kakuru pledges to amplify voices of entrepreneurs after historic nomination

OpED

HELLEN MASIKA: From Darkness to Solar Light in Kijumba 

Why de-register a Motor Vehicle in Uganda: and Consequences of Non-Compliance

Challenges of taxing law firms in Uganda

SHEILA ABOTH: Maternal healthcare must be everyone’s business because it takes a village

DARIUS NIWAHA KISHAHO: Securing Health After Retirement: Why a Post-Retirement Medical Cover is a Necessity, Not a Luxury

© 2024 Ugstandard - Latest News by Digital/New Media company.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • DIPLOMACY
    • COURT
    • AFRICA
    • BOOK REVIEW
    • INTERVIEW:
    • National
    • Parliament
    • World
    • Regional
  • Business
    • AGRIBUSINESS
    • OIL & GAS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECH
    • INNOVATIONS
    • TELCOM
  • OpED
  • EDUCATION
  • INVESTIGATION
    • NATIONAL ARCHIVE
    • SPECIAL REPORT
    • ANALYSIS
  • FEATURES
    • SOCIETY
    • Community
    • Pictorial
    • PROFILES
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • ENVIRONMENT
  • Tours & Travel
    • Hotel & Hospitality
  • Sports
  • About Us

© 2024 Ugstandard - Latest News by Digital/New Media company.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
%d