Kampala — Two people are separately claiming both the land and a multi-million carpentry workshop on the government-owned livestock farm in Njeru in Buikwe District.
Mr Caleb Kamugisha and one lady only identified as Nabatanzi each claim to possess authentic title for the land that Dr Charles Lagu, the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC) executive director, said belongs to the institution.
Land Commission chairperson Justice Catherine Bamugemereire on Friday, led the members to Njeru on a fact-finding mission and to ascertain how much of the government land had been irregularly allocated to some buyers.
Witnesses, including Dr Lagu, have previously testified before the Commission that Njeru Municipality Council officials doled out the public land and issued titles to private individuals.
The veterinary workshop, located on a 5-acre land at the foot of the Source of the Nile Bridge, belonged to an Indian investor and the government repossessed it following their expulsion in 1972. It was used to make beehives and other farm tools and also served as a model place for educating farmers and scientists.
Mr Joseph Opio, a senior Cartographer in the Agriculture ministry, said Ms Nabatanzi first acquired a leasehold on the land under reference, LVR 4272 Folio 20, but changed the ownership holding to a freehold.
There is no explanation as of now on how Mr Kamugisha and Ms Nabatanzi separately obtained titles on the public land and the Commission is yet to summon them to explain the alleged anomaly.
During a tour of the workshop, the Commission was shown machines bought with a loan from Danish Development Agency which were lying unutilised. In September, Dr Lagu asked the Commission to investigate the grabbing of Njeru Stock Farm land.
