Farmers in Uganda's Ntungamo District finally won a long fight over their land. State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja ordered the title for a key parcel transferred from the district government to the Kitondo Farmers Cooperative Society. Officials called the original titling a legal error, correcting a misinterpretation that wrongly gave the district control of land used communally for grazing since the 1940s.
The conflict started decades ago and got really bad in 2017, with farmers reporting violent eviction threats from people dressed like security forces. Locals said police often refused to even take their complaints. The dispute involved a specific plot where President Yoweri Museveni's aircraft lands during visits. After public pressure, Museveni himself called for an investigation. Presidential assistant Rebecca Atwine labeled the whole situation a clear abuse of power and corruption, noting that occupied land cannot legally be titled to someone else. District officer Gerald Nuwagaba claimed their intent was just to protect government property, thanking mediators for a peaceful solution.
The cooperative's chairperson, Alex Habasa, expressed overwhelming relief, saying authorities had previously threatened to seize cattle and arrest herdsmen. Following the minister's announcement, celebrating farmers broke into songs and dances, chanting support for the president ahead of the next election.
The conflict started decades ago and got really bad in 2017, with farmers reporting violent eviction threats from people dressed like security forces. Locals said police often refused to even take their complaints. The dispute involved a specific plot where President Yoweri Museveni's aircraft lands during visits. After public pressure, Museveni himself called for an investigation. Presidential assistant Rebecca Atwine labeled the whole situation a clear abuse of power and corruption, noting that occupied land cannot legally be titled to someone else. District officer Gerald Nuwagaba claimed their intent was just to protect government property, thanking mediators for a peaceful solution.
The cooperative's chairperson, Alex Habasa, expressed overwhelming relief, saying authorities had previously threatened to seize cattle and arrest herdsmen. Following the minister's announcement, celebrating farmers broke into songs and dances, chanting support for the president ahead of the next election.
