Uganda’s Minister of Water and Environment, Kahinda Otafiire, has strongly denied allegations that he grabbed land in Njeru, Buikwe District, insisting that he is the lawful owner of the property in question.
In a detailed statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Otafiire dismissed reports claiming he had taken over the entire government stock farm, describing the allegations as false and intended to mislead the public.
According to the minister, the land he owns forms part of the former Plots 3 and 4, Block 295 in Njeru, which he says he legally purchased in 2016 from the late Fred Lukwajju and Christopher Lule.
Otafiire explained that the two sellers were court-appointed administrators of the estates of the late Enoka Sebowa and Guster Seruwo after obtaining Letters of Administration and title orders from the High Court in Jinja in 2011.
He further stated that the administrators sold the 640-acre property to more than 25 companies and individual investors, including Modern Titles Ltd, Modern Laminates Ltd, Modern Agro Industries Ltd, Kiira Plastics Ltd, Sino Glass Manufacturing Ltd, Shreeji Glass (U) Ltd, Seyani Brothers, PAO Products, A-One Ltd, and other private buyers.
According to Otafiire, these companies and individuals have occupied and developed their respective portions of the land peacefully since 2018. He questioned why he alone has been labelled a land grabber while other purchasers have not faced similar accusations.
The minister also argued that the former government stock farm only occupied Plot 2, measuring approximately 190 acres, and never had ownership rights over Plots 3 and 4, where his land is located.
He cited remarks attributed to Minister of State for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama, who reportedly acknowledged that the stock farm lost its lease over Plot 2 in 2009 after failing to pay ground rent to the estate of the late Barbara Lakeri Nalubaale.
Otafiire further claimed that the High Court in Jinja confirmed the government’s loss of interest in the land through an order of re-entry after the Ministry of Agriculture and the stock farm allegedly failed to comply with the terms of the lease.
He added that the stock farm vacated the property on May 30, 2026, removing livestock, nitrogen equipment, and other assets, which he says demonstrates that it no longer has any legal claim over the land.
— Kahinda Otafiire (@otafiire_k) July 7, 2026
Maintaining that his property lies entirely on former Plots 3 and 4, Otafiire accused those behind the allegations of using his name to divert attention from what he described as the stock farm’s own lease violations and legal shortcomings.
