Acholi land: Leaders keeping region backward
RECENT press reports have quoted some Acholi MPs objecting to investors getting land in Acholi. One member reportedly swore to wage a spear war on any investor who sets foot in Acholiland.
By Pen-Mogi Nyeko
RECENT press reports have quoted some Acholi MPs objecting to investors getting land in Acholi. One member reportedly swore to wage a spear war on any investor who sets foot in Acholiland.
Since 1998, I have heard statements like Acholi land is not for sale, land is the only wealth Acholi are left with, etc. These are interesting but unfortunate statements from highly educated members of the Acholi community most of whom have land and lucrative investments outside Acholiland.
It will be wrong if we all keep quiet and this position is taken as a reflection of the common view of Acholi people. We all agree there is the geographical boundary of Acholi land covering 28,279.4 sq. kms.
Within this great land, there are clear boundaries or portions of land belonging to individuals. There is no Acholi leader elected or otherwise who has a right to generalise that Acholi land is not for sale or threaten to spear any investor acquiring land in Acholi.
The Constitution and the Land Act have clearly spelt out legal procedures for acquiring land in any part of the country by individuals or groups of persons. Having accessed land and invested in other parts of Uganda, it is wrong for our leaders to turn round and threaten people who want to acquire land and invest in Acholi.
In any case, how will any MP stop individuals in Acholi from selling their land? Have our leaders done any research to find out how many people from Acholi are working with private investors in other parts of the country.
Have they determined how many Acholi people are working in the various commercial agricultural enterprises like Kinyara, Kakira and Lugazi sugar plantations? Why can’t our leaders invite investors to set up factories and large plantations to provide jobs for their people in Acholi land?
People invested their votes in your leadership and in return they expect you to attract and invite investors to the region to provide them with jobs and markets for their agricultural products.
Northern region has a total land area of 85,392.2 sq kms. Out of this, Acholi land is 28,279.4 sq kms with a population of 35 persons per sq kms.
There are no commercial agricultural plantations in the whole of northern region basically because of politics of land. Jinja district with only 767.7 sq kms and a population density of 590 people per sq km has a large sugar plantation employing over 10,000 people.
The majority of porters working in Kakira sugar plantation are northerners. Instead of attracting investors to establish plantations in the region, our leaders are busy swearing by the spears to chase away investors. Why do such leaders want northerners to remain perpetual migrant labourers?
The writer is the former MP for Kilak
RECENT press reports have quoted some Acholi MPs objecting to investors getting land in Acholi. One member reportedly swore to wage a spear war on any investor who sets foot in Acholiland.
Since 1998, I have heard statements like Acholi land is not for sale, land is the only wealth Acholi are left with, etc. These are interesting but unfortunate statements from highly educated members of the Acholi community most of whom have land and lucrative investments outside Acholiland.
It will be wrong if we all keep quiet and this position is taken as a reflection of the common view of Acholi people. We all agree there is the geographical boundary of Acholi land covering 28,279.4 sq. kms.
Within this great land, there are clear boundaries or portions of land belonging to individuals. There is no Acholi leader elected or otherwise who has a right to generalise that Acholi land is not for sale or threaten to spear any investor acquiring land in Acholi.
The Constitution and the Land Act have clearly spelt out legal procedures for acquiring land in any part of the country by individuals or groups of persons. Having accessed land and invested in other parts of Uganda, it is wrong for our leaders to turn round and threaten people who want to acquire land and invest in Acholi.
In any case, how will any MP stop individuals in Acholi from selling their land? Have our leaders done any research to find out how many people from Acholi are working with private investors in other parts of the country.
Have they determined how many Acholi people are working in the various commercial agricultural enterprises like Kinyara, Kakira and Lugazi sugar plantations? Why can’t our leaders invite investors to set up factories and large plantations to provide jobs for their people in Acholi land?
People invested their votes in your leadership and in return they expect you to attract and invite investors to the region to provide them with jobs and markets for their agricultural products.
Northern region has a total land area of 85,392.2 sq kms. Out of this, Acholi land is 28,279.4 sq kms with a population of 35 persons per sq kms.
There are no commercial agricultural plantations in the whole of northern region basically because of politics of land. Jinja district with only 767.7 sq kms and a population density of 590 people per sq km has a large sugar plantation employing over 10,000 people.
The majority of porters working in Kakira sugar plantation are northerners. Instead of attracting investors to establish plantations in the region, our leaders are busy swearing by the spears to chase away investors. Why do such leaders want northerners to remain perpetual migrant labourers?
The writer is the former MP for Kilak