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All those who have encroached on the Nshaara Government Ranch in Kiruhura District have been given two weeks to vacate.

This follows a district security meeting held on Thursday, February 22, which was attended by among others, state animal industry minister Bright Rwamirama.

The directive follows an investigation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU), which on February 15, 2024, grilled a retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier Capt. David Bashaija, who took over one square mile of land off Sanga Stock Farm in Kiruhura District, partitioned it into plots and has been selling it.

SHACU’s intervention into the matter comes in the wake of a phone conversation between agriculture minister Frank Tumwebaze and the Unit head Brig. Henry Isoke, and a follow-up letter dated February 13, 2024.

In the letter, the Ministry noted that information indicates that in the 1990s, Bashaija forcefully occupied about one square mile of the government farm and resisted several eviction attempts by the authorities at the time.

The agriculture ministry said Bashaija kept returning to the subject land and on February 11, 2024, commenced grading and parcelling out the subject land into plots for sale and has since erected a roadside land sale advert.

“Sanga Stock Farm in Kiruhura District is one of the government farms being managed by the National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) under MAAIF. The Government farm was established among other things to work as a livestock breeding and multiplication centre for both highly productive and farmer-preferred dairy and beef cattle which are accessed by farmers at subsidised prices. The farm also hosts a conservancy for indigenous Mubende and Kigezi goat breeds. Part of the farm hosts telecommunication masts for Kiruhura District while another is set to host an Agricultural Technology University through a Presidential initiative,” the ministry stated.

The Ministry noted their several attempts to evict Capt. Bashaija, “culminated into a Presidential Communication ref: PO/17 dated November 20, 2000, directing the Attorney General to investigate the grabbing of part of Sanga Stock Farm and thereafter, cause immediate prosecution of Capt. Bashaija. A follow on communication Ref: MOS/A1/45 dated August 24, 2006, was made by the Minister for State for Animal Industry to the Minister for State for Lands requesting him not to issue any land titles on government farms and ranches including Sanga without express clearance from MAAIF.”

Rwamirama in his letter dated August 24, 2006, to the Minister of State for Lands noted, “The purpose of this communication is to request the Ministry of Lands to support the MAAIF to stop this practice. We request that no land survey or issuance of land titles is allowed for any of our land without our consent. The titles fraudulently acquired should be cancelled immediately. This will help us to carry out National Development Programs without due interference. The Ministry of Lands also ought to support our efforts to urgently acquire land titles for all our lands country-wide. Your timely interventions and necessary actions are called for.” 

The Minister also highlighted some of the MAAIF properties which had been wrongly given to either Individuals or groups which include, 30 acres given to Sanga Sub-County in Kiruhura District, Nalukolongo workshop where some groups acquired titles including Government assets and the land near Entebbe Airport.

He also highlighted some of the land which is under threat of giveaway or encroachment including Sanga Field Station in Kiruhura district measuring 640 ha;  Kasolwe Stock Farm in Kamuli district measuring 800 hectares; Ruhengyere Ranch in Kiruhura district measuring 5,1663 hectares; Nshaara Dairy Cross Breeding ranch in Kiruhura district measuring 7,000 hectares; Njeru Stock Farm; Rubona Stock Farm in Kabarole district measuring 736 acres; Maruzi Ranch in Apac district measuring  64 sq miles; Livestock Experimental Station in Wakiso district measuring 89.6 hectares; Acholi Ranch in Kitgum / Acholi regions measuring 6,000 hectares and as well Aswa Ranch in Kitgum / Acholi regions measuring 132 sq miles.

In his defence on Thursday, Capt. Bashaija said, it was important to note that he was not only selling plots but had also turned the entire land into an industrial park like Namanve.

“Of course, I have the titles. I am selling my land. Please invite for me investors so that they can come and purchase this land. I have been here for the last 30 years,” he said.

“It took us five years when we were in the bush to fight for the rule of law. Let the law take its course. Now that he has written to Gen. Isoke, let him investigate,” Bashaija said.

Asked to explain how he acquired the land, Bashaija said, “I acquired it the way other people acquire land. I have a title which I got in 2000. It is in my name and I have letters from LC1, the Kiruhura District, and the Land Board. When a complaint came out, President Museveni directed the Inspectorate of Government to come and investigate me and I was cleared,” he added but declined to give New Vision copies.

Asked who was in possession of the land when he settled, Capt. Bashaija said, “It was a buffer zone. There are many properties of that nature, and these were properties that were left between ranches and I applied for it,” he stated.