AMURU: A local businessman in Lakang Sub-county has been told by Amuru Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Osborn Oceng not to open boundaries on disputed land in Lakang.
Two weeks ago, Martin Oyet, a well-known businessman in Amuru Town Council, began claiming ownership of about 2,000 acres of land in Wei Apeto C hamlet in Kololo Parish. But over 20 locals objected his move, claiming he was installing markers on land he didn’t own.
Stephen Michael Enyang, a spokesman of the offended residents, informed Uganda Radio Network that the mark stones were secretly erected without landowners’ agreement.
Enyang, who owns 100 acres in the disputed area, says someone claiming to work for Oyet laid marker stones on his land.
Enyang says that if the exercise is not halted and the land boundaries clearly defined, many locals who are now being termed as squatters on the land will be left homeless. He notes that some of the land claimed by Oyet was fraudulently sold by non-residents of the area who needed money.
But Oyet disputes those allegations, saying he rightfully acquired the land in question through negotiation with genuine landowners. He explains that he first acquired about 1,000 acres of land in the area in November 2017 but expanded the size of his current holdings to 2,368 acres after negotiating with landowners.
Oyet suspects that some people are intending to purposely frustrate his developmental project on the land by alleging that he is grabbing land.
But the RDC, Oceng, notes that the complaints by the locals are subject to investigation and notes that a committee has been formed to verify the claims and settle the matter amicably. However, he, however, says a private surveyor who has been undertaking the survey work and erecting the mark stones has a case to answer for not informing the relevant authorities and other landowners.
In the meantime, Oceng says, he has directed the accused to halt any activity on the land to pave the way for in-depth verification of the size of land he owns and those of his neighbours.
Oyet and the complainants in the community have welcomed the decision to halt the boundary opening pending verification from district leaders and reports from a seven-man select committee instituted by the community.