Kitgum, NARO up in arms over DFI land ownership

Kitgum: The leadership of Kitgum District Local Government is currently in a dispute with the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) over the ownership of the District Farm Institute (DFI) land located in Pandwong Division, Kitgum Municipality.

This issue was revealed by Hon. Arwai Christopher Obol, the Kitgum District LCV Chairperson, during an interview with this publication on Friday, August 16^th, 2024.

The revelation comes following the alleged closure of the Gulu University Kitgum Campus library by officers from the NARO Kitgum branch.

According to Hon. Arwai, the district received shocking news on Thursday, August 15, 2024, about the closure of the university library, which was locked and welded shut by NARO officers, rendering it inaccessible to the university as the August intake began.

He added that records show that the DFI land is district land, gazetted by the Uganda Land Commission in 1963 under the custodianship of Kitgum Municipality on behalf of the District Local Government.

However, in 1983, the cabinet resolved to hand over such land to NARO for agricultural research and the establishment of demonstration farms and training programs.

Hon. Arwai noted that no significant research activities have taken place on the site, leaving it dormant. As a result, the district is now seeking to reclaim the land.

He also confirmed that Gulu University Kitgum Campus has already been granted constituency college status, which is expected to attract further development.

Expressing his disappointment with NARO’s actions, Hon. Arwai stated that they have directed the District Police Commander to intervene as the district leadership intends to hold meetings with NARO to reach a long-lasting solution.

We couldn’t get a comment from NARO by the time of publication.

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