Police Inspector General Martins Okoth Ochola has instructed the National Forestry Authority (NFA) to furnish irrefutable evidence regarding the disputed land in Namanve Industrial Park in response to a petition from Liberty ICD Limited. Liberty ICD alleges that NFA is attempting to evict investors from the park under the pretext that it is part of the Central Forest Reserve, despite court rulings suggesting otherwise.
The directive, issued through Assistant Inspector General of Police Erasmus Twaruhukwa, calls for an investigation into the matter by the Criminal Investigations Directorate. Ochola emphasized that if court judgements affirm the validity of land titles in Namanve Industrial Park, they should stand unless contrary legal evidence is provided.
The dispute stems from NFA’s claims that the land falls within the Central Forest Reserve, despite contradictory rulings from the Lands Ministry and the High Court. Liberty ICD demands evidence from NFA to support its assertions, warning that failure to do so would validate the land titles issued to investors.
Investors, frustrated by the conflicting claims, cite instances where they were allegedly obstructed from acquiring land in Namanve Industrial Park. Even major international companies, like Dubai Port World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company, faced similar challenges in their investment plans.
In response to NFA’s claims, investors argue that the authority lacks jurisdiction to challenge their land titles. The case is currently before Justice David Matovu, with NFA seeking the cancellation of titles it deems illegally issued.
