By KT Reporter
The planned acquisition of 3,480.4 acres of land by Pura Organic Agro Tech Limited in Pader District has been blocked due to strong opposition from local leaders and communities in Angagura Sub-County. The district land board had legally leased the land to the company on February 6, 2024, for a five-year period, starting January 1, 2024, with a payment of 348 million Ugandan Shillings.
However, the land, which covers multiple villages, including Burlobo, Bira, Aringoyon, Pabit, and Gogwiri in Burlobo and Kalawinya parishes, was set to be handed over to the investor on November 27, 2024, but local resistance has delayed this process.
Over 900 households are facing eviction due to the planned lease, which has sparked significant concerns among the affected communities. Local leaders, including Angagura Sub-County District Councilor Dickson Ojok, argue that the land rightfully belongs to the Payira community, not the district.
Ojok has emphasized that the land should not be handed over until various conditions are met, such as a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that clearly outlines the terms of the lease, fair tax revenue sharing, and proper community involvement in the project.
“The district must follow the correct legal procedures,” Ojok insisted, criticizing district officials for what he perceives as prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of the community. He pointed to the district’s remittance of only 8.2% of the total payment made by the investor, instead of the 65% required by the Local Government Act Cap 243 Section 85, subsection 2.
Frustration is also palpable among local residents. Ben Kilama, a resident of Bur-lobo village, expressed his concerns, stating, “We have nowhere to stay.” Margaret Laker, a widow from the same village, who has lived on the land for many years, questioned why the district was proceeding with handing over the land despite the project’s activities. She further noted that there was no community sensitization before the project began.
When contacted about the status of the project, Pader District Chairperson Fearless Obwoya Oyat stated that his office had not received the letter from PNK Advocates, which demanded the immediate handover of the land. Furthermore, the district’s claim to the land has been disputed by local leaders and the Acholi cultural institution, Ker Kwaro Acholi.
In a letter dated November 10, 2024, Prime Minister Ochora Ochitti urged the Gulu Zonal Land Ministry to halt the lease process, referencing a Constitutional Court ruling from February 2023, which affirmed that the land is customary land belonging to the Payira community. The Prime Minister requested that the district title the land under Ker Kwaro Payira.
The situation escalated further when Vice Chairperson Ocen Justine, who also serves as the district’s health secretary, maintained that the district council had approved the lease. However, this claim has been contested by Speaker Mr. Ottober Wellborn Odiya, who confirmed that no such resolution was passed. Meanwhile, the Pader District Land Board has allocated another 500 acres to the Uganda Investment Authority for the establishment of an industrial park, while Panacea Agribusiness Ltd has been allocated 2,611 acres in Agora Ranch for an oilseed production project-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
