President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said that he will follow up on the land dispute between Stephen Irumba, the former Tooro Kingdom Premier and Office of the Prime Minister.
This was disclosed during a two hour meeting between Museveni and members of the Tooro Elders Forum at the Presidential State Lodge in Njara, Fort Portal on Saturday.
Museveni was informed about the dispute by Professor Edward Rugumayo, the Chairperson of the Tooro Elders Forum.
Mr Rugumayo told Mr Museveni that there have been constant attacks on Irumba’s farm and incitement of the occupants of the land by Kyegegwa district leaders.
Chris Businge, the Secretary Tooro Elders Forum told this reporter that the president was surprised about the attacks on Irumba’s farm, saying he will personally follow up the matter.
According to Mr Businge, the President was also shocked when he was told that no suspects had been arrested over the attacks.
Last month, unknown people raided Mr Irumba’s ranch located in Rwentuha Sub County, Kyegegwa district, killing five cows. Two cows were stolen and three cut.
Other matters that the elders told the President to address was the failure by Tooro Kingdom to implement the recommendations of the religious leaders and illegal land evictions.
On the religious leaders report on Tooro Kingdom, Mr Museveni told the elders that he will meet King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and the religious leaders to discuss the report.
Museveni told the elders that he did not study the report because he was busy with the presidential campaigns at the time.
In 2015, Museveni set up the mediation committee led by Bishop Reuben Kisembo of Ruwenzori Diocese following a power row between Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and his cousin, Prince David Kijanangoma.
It came after Kijanangoma attempted to enthrone himself as the king of Tooro Kingdom accusing Oyo of abdicating his duties and abandoning the throne to stay in Kampala.
The officials were accused of abusing their offices and giving wrong advice to the Omukama.
In the report to the President, the Committee also recommended that Queen Mother Best Kemigisa stops interfering in the Kingdom administration and called for investigations into the illegal sale of kingdom land among others. However none of these were implemented.
On leasing out of crater lakes to Ferduselt Engineering Services, President Museveni said although he supports commercialised fish farming, the High Court was right to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding.
Museveni said that the communities surrounding the lakes should have been involved because they have lived there for a long time and fishing is their source of income.
In 2015, Kabarole district signed a memorandum with Ferdsult Engineering Company to restock fish in 20 crater lakes. However last year, Fort Portal Resident Judge Anthony Ojok Ayuko cancelled the deal.
According to Mr Businge, President Museveni also supported the idea of setting up an agribusiness industrial centre to create jobs.
