Njeru Municipality: Nytil Land Dispute Continues Amid Calls for Intervention

• Investors in Njeru Municipality have raised concerns over alleged land grabbing, affecting business expansion and investor confidence.
• The Nytil land dispute has been ongoing since December 2024, with then Lands Minister Sam Mayanja directing Nytil management to reopen a community access road.
• Government officials have called for intervention to resolve the dispute, emphasizing the need for determination through the legal process.

Failure to protect investments and provide certainty over land ownership could damage the district's reputation as an investment destination.

Njeru Municipality in Buikwe District has become a hotbed of land disputes, with investors and residents locked in contentious battles over ownership. The Nytil land dispute is one such example, where the company's plans to expand operations have been hindered by a prolonged dispute that has dragged on for years. According to sources, the issue dates back to December 2024, when then Lands Minister Sam Mayanja directed Nytil management to reopen a community access road in Naminya South, Njeru Municipality, following complaints from residents. However, the subsequent demolition of part of Nytil's perimeter wall created an opportunity for individuals to encroach on land claimed by the company.

Lawmakers and government officials have called for intervention to resolve the Nytil land dispute, which has become a major setback to the company's investment plans. Moses Lukanga, Member of Parliament for Njeru Municipality, emphasized that the ownership dispute should be determined through the legal process, allowing relevant authorities to establish ownership and provide clarity to all parties involved. Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development in charge of Privatisation and Investment Hajjat Amina Mukalazi has also urged Buikwe District authorities to work with investors and government agencies to address land disputes and other challenges affecting businesses.

The prolonged land dispute has raised concerns among investors about the area's attractiveness as an investment destination. Minister Mukalazi warned that failure to protect investments and provide certainty over land ownership could damage the district's reputation, scaring away potential investors. The Uganda Investment Authority has been called upon to support efforts to resolve the Nytil dispute, with officials pointing to previous interventions in Namanve as examples of how investment-related challenges can be addressed through government coordination.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the potential impact of prolonged land disputes on business expansion and investor confidence, and advise clients to engage with relevant government agencies to resolve such issues.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica