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WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Man buys land at sh72,000, sells it to govt at sh1b

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In a public hearing conducted at the Archives and Records Centre in Nakasero, the commission was stunned by the incredible story of how a 24-year old was paid excess of over sh1b.

The land probe commission, chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, has commenced inquiry into a bogus multi-billion-shilling land fund bonanza, by Kibaale district officials.

In a public hearing conducted at the Archives and Records Centre in Nakasero, a city suburb of Kampala, the commission was stunned by the incredible story of how a 24-year old was paid excess of over sh1b.

The Land Fund is a multipurpose resource basket with targeted beneficiaries, including tenants seeking to buy/own land, government seeking to buy land for redistribution to bonafide occupants or resettlement of the landless, loans to persons wanting to acquire titles or even survey their land.

Senior land management officer Denis Musinguzi, 34, was tasked with explaining how he acquired over 1,000 acres in 2007 in Nyakatojo village, Mpeefu sub-county, Kibaale district. In 2007, Musinguzi was the district land surveyor. The land is registered as Block 3 Plot 4, Nyakatojo.

He was given a title in 2012. Lead counsel Ebert Byenkya wondered how Musinguzi paid a paltry sh72,000 to the district land board and was given a title, and, later sold the land to government at over sh1b. Musinguzi claimed he was driven by the urge to succeed, and that when the opportunity presented itself, he took advantage.

“As an ambitious young man, I wanted to plant trees, so I saw free land, and to the best of my knowledge, it had no occupants. I later paid sh72,000 to the land board, and when I heard that Uganda Land Commission was buying land for compensation in the Land Fund scheme, I sold it and was paid sh1b in between 2013 and 2014,” Musinguzi stated.

But Byenkya scoffed at his claims and said he had crafted a fable to validate fraud against government. “You are lying about the land being free in 2007. There was a community that was already living in that area. You lied to government of Uganda to get money and land which was occupied by people,” Byenkya said.

But Musinguzi insisted that the land was unoccupied and uninhabited. When the commission insisted on knowing how he spent the money, and the other beneficiaries, Musinguzi asked to reveal such details in camera. “I request that the commission allows me to mention those details in camera. I fear for my security.”

Byenkya slammed him, and said he was part of the scam and a cartel that was bent on defrauding government. But when pressed to reveal district officials who participated in the bonanza, he cited Joseph Kwezi (LC 3 Kibaale Town Council), Michael Yombo (LC3 Kakindo sub-county), Godfrey Mugisha (Town Clerk Kibaale), and Rogers Kwezi (physical planner, Kibaale district), among others.

Musinguzi was also quizzed on conflict of interest, and the harsh penalty for civil servants cited in fraud. Bamugemereire cited Section 9 of the Anti-Corruption Act, which condemns a convict to a 12-year jail term.

When Musinguzi conceded that there could have been mistakes committed, Bamugemereire directed the Police investigators attached to the commission to record his additional statement. She noted that in the event that what he discloses is of value, then his request will be considered.

The other commissioners are Frederick Ruhindi, Mary Oduka Ochan, Robert Ssebunnya, Joyce Habaasa, Dr Rose Nakayi, and George Bagonza. Ebert Byenkya is lead

counsel, John Bosco Suuza the assistant lead counsel, while Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya (High Court Judge designate) heads the secretariat.

COMMISSION MANDATE 
The commission’s mandate is to probe efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management. It is also tasked with inquiring the effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves and national parks, among other gazetted spaces.

AUDITOR GENERAL QUERIES LAND FUND
In 2011, the Auditor General lamented that after nearly 11 years since the Act came into force, the Fund is not operational. Section 41(1) of the Land Act 2000, states there shall be a fund to be known as the Land Fund, which shall be managed by the ULC. Sub-section 10 prescribes that the lands minister shall ensure that the fund is instituted within a year after the President assents to the bill.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI VOWS JUSTICE FOR LOST COUNTIES 
Last year, on September 9, President Yoweri Museveni inaugurated the Kibaale district lands zonal office, and vowed to do justice by returning the lost counties land to the ordinary people. Museveni alluded to the colonial era when the British awarded Buganda the counties of Bugangaizi and Buyaga which were taken from Bunyoro and awarded to collaborators of Buganda.

At the ceremony held at Bujuni Primary School in Buyanja constituency, Museveni handed over 254 land titles, under Land Fund, to lawful owners. In 1927, the British conducted a survey and mapping exercise. The next year, the collaborators were titles, which were stored for safe custody at the administrative seat of Buganda kingdom, Mengo, and, subsequently, at the Mityana lands offices.

But after the 1964 referendum, when the Banyoro voted overwhelmingly to return the lost counties to Bunyoro, the titles were taken to Fort Portal land offices. At the inauguration of the Kibaale land office, ULC chairperson Baguma Isoke revealed that the Government had secured 504 titles, having bought 200,000 acres of land at sh92b.

Source: New Vision

WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Top 10 agribusiness giants: corporate concentration in food & farming in 2025

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Today a handful of agribusiness corporations have consolidated unprecedented control over the world’s food supply, with devastating consequences for farmers, consumers and the planet. A new report by ETC Group and GRAIN examines the state of corporate concentration in six sectors critical to agriculture: commercial seeds, pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, farm machinery, animal pharmaceuticals and livestock genetics.

Corporate consolidation is increasing in most of these sectors and four of them– seeds, pesticides, agricultural machinery and animal pharmaceuticals– now meet the definition of an oligopoly, in which four companies control more than 40% of a market. Concentration can be even higher at the national level, as is the case with synthetic fertilisers.

Top findings from the report include:

  • Oligopolies dominate key sectors: Bayer, Corteva, Syngenta, and BASF control 56% of the global commercial seeds market, and 61% of the pesticides market.
  • Profiteering amid global crises: Agribusiness giants have exploited crises like the Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic to inflate prices. Fertiliser companies, for instance, saw revenues soar by 57% from 2020 to 2023, with some accused of price gouging.
  • Digital and biotech expansion: Corporations are rapidly integrating AI, gene editing, and digital platforms into agriculture through partnerships with Big Tech companies. These technologies enable data extraction from farmers, facilitate carbon credit schemes, and tighter control over food systems—while raising concerns about biosafety, privacy, and corporate monopolies.

View the Report

Source: grassrootsonline

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WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Land grabbers evict 360,000 Ugandans in 2024

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A staggering 363,021 Ugandans were displaced due to forced land evictions between January and June 2024, according to a new report by Witness Radio Uganda.

The report documented 90 cases of land evictions during this period, with nearly four incidents occurring weekly, affecting over 15,126 people and threatening 5,060 hectares of land nationwide.

The Central region was the epicenter, recording 52 eviction cases, followed by 24 in the Western region, eight in the Northern region, and six in the Eastern region. Alarmingly, the report estimated that 2,160 Ugandans face eviction daily, with 723 hectares of land at risk of being grabbed every day.

VIOLENCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

Despite government promises and directives from President Museveni to halt evictions, land grabbers have routinely ignored these orders, often resorting to violence. Armed security forces, private militias, and police were reported to have carried out the majority of the evictions.

Of the reported cases, 37 were enforced by armed gangs on behalf of evictors, 25 involved Uganda Police, five were carried out with the participation of UPDF soldiers, and four were linked to private security companies.

“The egregious levels of impunity exhibited by land grabbers have left communities defenseless, creating an environment where their human rights are trampled without consequence,” said Jeff Wokulira Ssebaggala, country director of Witness Radio Uganda.

He called for accountability and justice, warning that the unchecked power of influential individuals and entities leaves marginalized communities vulnerable and without recourse.

DRIVERS OF EVICTIONS: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND LAND-BASED INVESTMENTS

The report identified the government’s push for industrialization and land-based investments as the primary drivers of forced evictions. Land is increasingly targeted for oil and gas extraction, mining, agribusiness and tree plantations for carbon offsets. While some of this land is already under development, other parcels remain vacant but are guarded by military personnel and private security firms.

Ssebaggala emphasized that industrialization must balance economic development with the protection of smallholder farmers’ rights to land and food security.

TRAGIC STORIES

The report highlighted harrowing cases that underscore the human toll of forced evictions. In Nakasongola, smallholder farmer Dan Ssebyala was ambushed and killed by armed men following a confrontation over disputed land. The district has become a hotspot for violent evictions involving absentee landlords and powerful investors.

Ismael Bwowe, a disabled father of 20, recounted how his land was confiscated after he demanded fair compensation. He faced intimidation, arrests and false charges from state authorities, including being accused of robbing an influential individual. Bwowe claimed that Total Energies offered legal support and representation on the condition that he accept their compensation terms.

“I refused,” he said, adding that the pressure to relinquish his land remains intense. The report underscores the urgent need for reforms to address forced evictions, ensure accountability, and protect the rights of vulnerable communities. Without meaningful intervention, Uganda risks deepening inequality and undermining the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who are essential to the country’s food security.

FAMILY JAILED AMID LAND DISPUTE

The plight of Richard Ssebagala, his wife Prossy Namande, and their relative Anania Ngabirano, residents of Kabubu-Kabongo village in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso district, highlights the human toll of Uganda’s ongoing land disputes. The family spent nine months in prison following their arrest on January 10, 2024, under controversial circumstances.

ARREST AND ALLEGATIONS

The arrests occurred at 1am, during a raid by officers from Luweero police station. Police reportedly banged on the doors and forcefully detained the family, accusing them of aggravated robbery. However, the family believes the arrest was a tactic linked to a land dispute with Benon Ntambi, a man who allegedly grabbed their land.

Before the arrests, Ntambi had reportedly destroyed crops, including tomatoes, potatoes, and bananas, on the contested land. While the family was incarcerated, a new building was constructed on their land, which is now occupied, raising further questions about the motivations behind their detention.

CALLS FOR JUSTICE

The case has drawn attention from Witness Radio Uganda, which has urged the government to take immediate action to address land grabbing and illegal evictions. The organization emphasized the need to strengthen land laws and protect vulnerable communities from abuses.

It also called for greater accountability in institutions such as the Uganda Police Force, the army and land registries, which are often accused of corruption and favoritism toward the wealthy.

“The government must prioritize justice for victims of illegal evictions and address systemic corruption that leaves the poor defenseless against land grabbers,” Witness Radio Uganda stated.

BROADER CONTEXT

This case underscores the broader issue of land conflicts in Uganda, where vulnerable families are often caught in disputes with powerful individuals or entities. Advocacy groups warn that the failure to address these issues not only erodes public trust but also perpetuates inequality and injustice.

As the government faces mounting pressure to act, the story of Ssebagala and his family serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reforms to protect land rights and ensure justice for those impacted by land disputes.

Source: The Observer

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WITNESS RADIO MILESTONES

Uganda: Community members violently evicted by security forces, allegedly related to EACOP; incl. co. responses

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On 10 February 2023, more than 2,500 community members were forcibly evicted from their land in Kapapi village in Hoima district in Western Uganda by security forces, receiving no compensation or resettlement.

Witness Radio, an Ugandan non-profit organisation comprised of human rights investigative journalists, lawyers, and social workers, said that many people were wounded during the eviction, women were raped, and houses were destroyed.

Witness Radio said its investigations found that this eviction occurred to clear the path for the Tilenga feeder pipeline, part of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). According to Witness Radio, in 2022 Kapapi community members’ land was surveyed for the Tilenga pipeline and people were informed they would be compensated for the land. Instead, they were forcibly evicted, which Witness Radio allege was backed and financed by Swacoff Intertrade Company Limited, known to TotalEnergies. They also allege that guards from private security company Magnum Security were involved. Witness Radio has also found that dozens of local farmers who were evicted have been arbitrarily arrested and face criminal charges.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited TotalEnergies, Swacoff Intertrade Company Limited, and Magnum Security to respond to the allegations. TotalEnergies responded and stated that no land eviction activities had been carried out by or on behalf of TotalEnergies EP Uganda (TEPU) and EACOP Ltd and that none of the affected people are Tilenga or EACOP Project Affected Persons. Swacoff responded and said that the company has never engaged in forceful eviction of any sort and asserts that these allegations are completely false. Their full responses and rejoinders from Witness Radio are available below. Magnum Security did not respond.

Source: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

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