By
Our Reporter.
Gulu University Secretary, Obol David Otori led a team of 15 university staff and pitched camp in Nyamokino since 8th of September 2025 as a process to establish a ranch in the university land that measures up to 1,552.0490 hectares.
The bold step by the university is within the National Development Plan IV, the country’s strategy to boost income generation, that will go a long way in improving animal genetics, job creation, infrastructural development and training community members in beef and dairy production. This also resonate with the vison of President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta and the National Resistance Movement manifesto in poverty eradication.
However, there are allegation of negative forces among a section of Nwoya district officials who are encouraging the community to encroach on the university land.
Obol David Otori the University Secretary said pitching his camp in the area is also part of the strategy of directly engaging with over 17 people who are being accused by the university for encroaching in to a portion of the university land in Nyamukino parish Lungulu subcounty, Nwoya district.
Obol confirmed that the University titled the said land in 2015 to support the growth of the university as far as expansion of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment is concerned with immense benefits to the local community in the area.
The University authority also said that Balalo herds men have invaded a portion of the said land through renting from the alleged encroachers and are heavily facilitating a section of Nwoya district leaders.
“Its true we found many Balalo herds men on a portion of the university land and for them, the presidential directive doesn’t apply because they have not been evicted to date, as a university we have complained formally to the Minister of Northern Uganda in the manner in which Balalo in the university land are treated as kings by a section of officials”. Ojok James Onono the University Public Relations Officer said.
This Publication also on September 12th 2025 attempted calling in vain Lwakaana Twaha the alleged chief herdsman operating in Nyamokino allegedly fueling confusion and compromising leaders in Nwoya so that he is not evicted as per the presidential directive on his known number 0782351242.
Onono said it is a shock to the university to know that a section of leaders in Nwoya are behind the confusion in the said land yet few years ago the university surrendered 200 acres, part of its land in Got-Apwoyo subcounty to Nwoya District Local Government for the construction of the Petroleum Institute and expected all district leaders to stand with the university fully.
The team have a fire place to keep warm at night
“To avoid further confusion or violence, we have decided to engage directly these people in the university land without any third party, this approach shall cement the negotiation and the university plan will continue”. Said the Public Relation Officer who is part of the University team currently in Nwoya district.
This publication also saw a copy of the letter dated July,21st ,2025 signed by Prof.Openjuru George Ladaah, the Vice-Chancellor of Gulu University to the Minister of Northern Uganda complaining on the Balalo herds men occupying some part of the university land in question.
This publication has also seen a copy of a letter by the Chief Government Valuer dated September 12,2025 assuring the university of their support in operations on the land that needs them.
“We will start compensation immediately with people who have embraced this new strategy and ignore those who are in the courts”. Added James Onono Ojok, the University Publicist.
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