Kahinda Otafiire Breaks Silence on Njeru Stock Farm Land Ownership Controversy

KAMPALA — Water and Environment Minister Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire has broken his silence on the long-running controversy surrounding ownership of land linked to the former Njeru Government Stock Farm, insisting that he legally acquired the property and dismissing allegations that he grabbed government land.

In a detailed statement titled “The Njeru Land Record: Facts, Law and the Campaign of Misinformation,” Otafiire accused Weekend Vision of publishing what he described as a misleading account that ignored key legal facts and judicial decisions relating to the disputed land.

Otafiire maintained that his ownership of the land is lawful and backed by documentary evidence, court rulings and land records, while challenging those accusing him of fraud to pursue the matter in court if they have evidence.

“My position has been clear and unequivocal: YES, I own land comprised in Block 295, Plots 280 and 282, formerly Plot 3 and Plot 4 Bukaya, Njeru. I lawfully acquired this land from the late Christopher Lule and the late Fred Kato Lukwajju. Those parcels originated from former Plot 3 and Plot 4, land historically owned by Guster Seruwo and Enoka Sebowa, who obtained Final Certificates on 21 February 1923,” wrote Otafiire.

“These parcels were never part of the Ham Mukasa Estate and were never part of the Government Stock Farm.”

The minister argued that the dispute has been clouded by confusion between different parcels of land.

“The central issue deliberately overlooked is that the Government Stock Farm occupied Plot 2 under a 99-year lease granted in 1948 by the late Ham Mukasa. The current public narrative conflates Plot 2 with Plots 3 and 4 despite their distinct ownership histories,” he noted.

Otafiire said several questions about the government’s continued occupation of the stock farm land have remained unanswered despite repeatedly raising them in Cabinet and in public.

“Does the Stock Farm possess any valid and subsisting lease or tenancy agreement with the Ham Mukasa Estate or its administrators? What became of the lease after the arbitral award and subsequent court decisions ordering re-entry following persistent non-payment of rent? Can the Ministry of Agriculture or the Stock Farm produce evidence of lawful rental payments for their continued occupation since 2010, or at the very least since 2017 when allegations against me first emerged?” asked Otafiire.

“Has the Ministry ever sought to overturn the court orders authorising re-entry? If my ownership is allegedly fraudulent, why have neither the Attorney General nor the Stock Farm instituted proceedings challenging my registered ownership and possession?”

He added: “The silence surrounding these questions is telling.”

Otafiire further argued that the legal history of the matter supports his position.

“The documented legal record is equally clear. First, although the Stock Farm held a 99-year lease from 1948 over Plot 2, it lost its legal interest following Arbitration Cause No. 80 of 2009 before Hon. Sam Mayanja, which ordered cancellation of the lease for non-payment of rent and authorised re-entry by the administrators of the Ham Mukasa Estate. Secondly, that re-entry was confirmed by Lady Justice Percy Tuhaise, then sitting at the High Court in Jinja, on 21 July 2011,” he explained.

“Thirdly, officials from the Commissioner of Lands subsequently confirmed before court that the re-entry had been effected, the administrators entered on the register and the lease cancelled. Fourthly, on 26 August 2025, a consent judgment recognised Brenda Nanyondo, great-granddaughter of Ham Mukasa, as a lawful beneficiary and co-administrator of the relevant estate. Fifthly, following administration of that estate, her entitlement was subdivided and portions were lawfully transferred to third parties, who are now registered proprietors. Consequently, the historical Plot 2 no longer exists in its previous legal form. These facts are matters of public record.”

The minister also pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in previous official communications regarding the disputed land.

“Equally noteworthy is the contradiction between allegations recently advanced and an earlier communication reportedly addressed by Hon. Bright Rwamirama to H.E the President dated 14 March 2025, acknowledging that the Stock Farm had lost its interest following the failure to pay rent and expressly referring to the relevant court decisions, including Miscellaneous Application No. 110 of 2011 and Miscellaneous Application No. 859 of 2011.”

He further stated that President Yoweri Museveni had previously been informed about developments concerning the land.

“Furthermore, the President had already been briefed on these developments. Through the Principal Private Secretary, Mrs Joy Kabatsi, correspondence dated 7 June 2011 directed the Commissioner of Lands, Mrs Sarah Kulata, to facilitate the entry of the late Christopher Lule and Fred Kato Lukwajju onto the certificates of title relating to Plots 3 and 4 Bukaya, Njeru,” he said.

“These documentary records stand in sharp contrast to repeated public allegations that I unlawfully ‘grabbed’ land.”

Otafiire challenged anyone disputing his account to present evidence before the courts instead of relying on media reports.

“I therefore reiterate the same challenge I have consistently made: if there is evidence disproving these legal and documentary facts, let it be produced publicly and tested in the appropriate judicial forum rather than through selective media narratives.”

He also dismissed what he called attempts to shift attention to unrelated allegations.

“Recent attempts to introduce unrelated allegations concerning a gold mine or cannabis cultivation appear to be further efforts to divert attention from the central legal issues. Those claims, too, will be addressed comprehensively with documentary evidence.”

Concluding his statement, Otafiire defended the rule of law as the proper basis for resolving the dispute.

“Public confidence is best served not by speculation or repetition of allegations, but by fidelity to facts, respect for judicial decisions and adherence to the rule of law. That remains my position today, just as it has been from the outset.”

Otafiire is known to speak his mind on controversial issues. Weeks ago, he exposed the rot in Uganda Police, prompting first son Gen Muhoozi to start baying for his blood. (See Details Here and There).