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Last Updated on: 16th February 2019, 08:39 pm
Maruzi Ranch in Maruzi County, Apac district is under spotlight after it has emerged that thousands of squatters have been ordered to leave the land for investment.
This is expected to leave the land, about 64 square miles to investors.
The land which has been idle for over 50 years, according to area MP, Akora Maxwell, will promote and boost local economic development in the whole of Apac district.
Speaking to this contemporary online newspaper on Monday, the Lawmaker says the development on the ranch is part of his political campaign promise in 2011.
Akora says the Maruzi Ranch is a government land, urging squatters to leave as directed by government.
He says the “now hot topic”, Maruzi Ranch land has been leased for Uganda shillings 959 million.
The economic activity on the land is palm tree growing, he reveals.
TND News also understands that there has been a lot of talks by concerned citizens, many of them activists who called on government to leave the land “untouched”.
The activists also wants Lango Parliamentary Group [LPG] to make a strong statement on the land, with others claiming that some Legislators have been bribed, and can’t talk.
Recently, Lango MPs, under their umbrella body, Lango Parliamentary Group met President Museveni in State House Entebbe, where key issues were discussed.
The claim, of bribing leaders has been quashed by Maxwell Akora, in an interview early this week, on Monday.
“What do you want the leaders to say? We have engaged different media houses and area locals who are all aware of the development,” he says.
“What we want to see is the viability of the project, its effect on environment,” he added.
Akora – who has been an MP since 2011, says, campaigning that time, he dwelled on two key issues.
One of it he says was to find an investor to invest on the land to benefit the local people, and for the local people to have a stake on the said land.
“All the campaign in 2011 was on Maruzi Ranch where it has been a hot topic, and I’m glad to deliver on the promise I made to the people of Maruzi Country,” Akora recalls.
