Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Observer
Published on 2024-01-31 08:29:41
Last week, an incident at the government’s Njeru stock farm caused tension and uproar, as Internal Affairs minister Kahinda Otafiire stormed the farm and had its manager, Dr. Carol Wabule, arrested. The reason for his actions was that he claimed the farm had trespassed onto his 100 acres of land in the area.
This event, which took place on January 19, is just the latest in a series of raids on the farm, with an earlier incident in June 2023 involving Claire Otafiire, the general’s daughter, allegedly causing destruction of property worth millions of shillings while accompanied by armed security officers.
The situation has garnered attention in parliament, with legislators demanding protection for the stock farm, which serves as a key agricultural genetics hub for the east and northeastern regions. In response to the turmoil, parliament has given Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja two weeks to present a report on the matter.
It has been reported that there are several other companies and individuals, including ministers, technocrats, and top security officers, who have encroached upon the ministry’s vast 1,099 acres of land. Sources close to the matter have indicated that Prime Minister Nabbanja has encountered resistance from some of these encroachers, who have dismissed her authority to intervene in the situation.
Despite the challenges and controversy surrounding the farm, Bright Rwamirama, the Animal Industry state minister, remains determined to address the issue. He has emphasized that the problem at hand is land grabbing, which he attributes to leaders of Njeru town council. Minister Rwamirama expressed his expectation for the local leadership to protect the resource, which he described as the only one of its kind in the region. He remains optimistic that the government will ultimately prevail in resolving the ongoing disputes.
In response to the actions of Minister Otafiire, Minister Rwamirama expressed surprise and recounted that he had previously discussed the matter with Otafiire, who had indicated that he was selling the land in question. Minister Rwamirama highlighted discrepancies in the land ownership records and criticized the use of police force in the situation.
He emphasized that even if Otafiire had purchased the land, the government retains an interest in it, and proper legal procedures should have been followed. Minister Rwamirama stressed that the use of police force by Otafiire reveals a lot about his character, and he called for a more lawful and respectful approach to resolving the land disputes.
Overall, the situation at the Njeru stock farm remains delicate, with tensions between government officials and encroachers, but Minister Rwamirama is steadfast in his commitment to protecting the valuable agricultural resource. The ongoing disputes highlight the complexities of land ownership and the challenges associated with safeguarding important agricultural assets for the benefit of the region.
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