Govt probes stalled sh300b beef processing plant

May 18, 2012

Govt has instituted a NEMA team to investigate circumstances under which a $122m (sh300b) beef processing plant has been frustrated by pastoralists.

By Patrick Jaramogi

Government has instituted a National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) team to investigate circumstances under which a $122m (Shs300b) beef processing plant has been frustrated by pastoralists, New Vision online has learnt.

According to reports, the pastoralists backed by “top” government officials have encroached into the Kafu River making developments of the Ziwa Ranch scheme a hurdle.

A team of NEMA officials and Environment Police early this week visited the area of contentions in Masindi following reports of massive encroachment on a swamp next to the river.

The pastoralist accuse of sabotaging the Shs300b beef processing plant were recently evicted from Bulisa.

“We are here to ascertain reports that a section of a swamp along River Kafu has been encroached upon. We have discovered that John Kaija, an Under Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Lt. Abel Kandiho one of President Museveni’s guards are involved in the encroachment,” said Dr. Festus Bogoora the NEMA’s lead investigator.

He observed that the pastoralists had portioned sections of the swamp and erected kraals along the banks of the river.
“Mr. Kaija and his groups are within 100 meters from the water mark of the river protected by law. He encroached on the wetland and damaged the banks of River Kafu,” said Bogoora.

The erection of Kraals along the river banks has made it hard for development of the 62 square miles planned Ziwa ranchers beef processing plant.

In 2010, Mukwano Group of Companies bought the Farm from Capt. Roy who bought it from Privatization Unit in 2002 but allegedly failed to manage it in eight years since he took over from Uganda Livestock.

“We had plans of exporting beef to European Union, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic next year but cannot because our efforts are being frustrated by the pastoralists,” said the General Manager Ziwa Ranch Mr. Muhammad Iqbal.

He told the NEMA team that most of the perimeter fence wires erected bordering the river has been vandalized by the pastoralists. “We were supposed to fence off, spray for two years to get rid of ticks before stocking the farm with 40,000 imported Boran cattle from Kenya. But each time we erect a fence it is broken down,” he said. Our staff is being assaulted and tortured by these pastoralists.

Kaija however denied encroaching on the swamp. "This is not a swamp. The river usually busts after four years and water over flows to my land. Otherwise this is not a swamp. I have even applied for a land title from the District Land Board that I am about to get," he responded. The Land board denied to issue him with one.

The pastoralists however denied encroachment and accused Ziwa ranchers of blocking access to the river banks. "We need good neighbors. A good neighbor can’t block a road leading to his neighbor.”
 

 

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