Iganga Investor accused of grabbing land

May 07, 2009

RESIDENTS affected by the proposed take-over of Naigombwa swampland in Iganga district by an investor are unhappy with the low pay received in exchange for their land.

By George Bita

RESIDENTS affected by the proposed take-over of Naigombwa swampland in Iganga district by an investor are unhappy with the low pay received in exchange for their land.

Hussein Isabirye, a resident, told The New Vision on Tuesday that they had received sh35,000 per acre so as to relocate elsewhere.

“Imagine getting about sh350,000 for 10 acres of fertile land. These people are just thieves and our district leaders are siding with them to con us instead of helping,” Isabirye said.

He said an acre of land in the area fetched between sh500,000 to sh2m.

Pearl Oil, a private company introduced by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) secretariat in is to carry out commercial rice farming the Naigombwa swamp that stretches to Buyanga, Nasuti and Namalemba sub-counties.

Recently, the NAADS secretariat sponsored a controversial council session at the district chambers that unanimously resolved to give away the swamp.

Council members are said to have received envelopes, which contained cash that ranged from sh300,000 to sh1m.

Asuman Kyafu, the district chairman, denied claims that his leadership had connived with the investor to snatch land from the peasants.

“We have decided to end this loose talk by taking the officials of Pear Oil on the ground so that they explain themselves to the locals,” Kyafu said.

He said the affected people would be addressed at their respective sub-county headquarters next week.

Swaibu Lubega, the resident district commissioner, said the residents were frustrating development in the area by having a negative attitude towards investors.

“There is no way they will develop this area alone without being helped by these investors who bring in the money,” Lubega said.

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