The family of the late Ham Mukasa has issued a formal demand to the government, requesting the clearance of $38,769,120 (approximately Shs141.8 billion) as unpaid ground rent for a piece of land occupied by the Njeru Stock Farm in Buikwe District.
The demand was outlined in a letter addressed to the National Genetics Research Institute and Data Bank (NAGRIC) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) in October 2024. The family, through their lawyer Ms. Brenda Nanyondo, who is also the estate administrator and great-granddaughter of Ham Mukasa, claims the debt has been accumulating for over a decade.
According to the letter, the Mukasa family ceased receiving payments for the land in 2011, resulting in significant financial losses. “The Ministry of Agriculture and the stock farm have failed to vacate the property or pay the agreed ground rent, denying our client potential business opportunities. This has led to a monthly loss of $1,200 per acre across 190 acres, amounting to $2,736,000 annually,” the letter states.
The accumulated principal arrears of $35,568,000 have been further compounded by 9% annual interest, bringing the total claim to $38,769,120.
The land, measuring 190 acres and forming part of Njeru Stock Farm, was leased to the colonial government by Ham Mukasa in 1948 under a 99-year agreement. After Uganda’s independence, Njeru Town Council assumed management of the lease on behalf of the government.
However, in 2011, the High Court terminated the lease due to non-payment and granted re-entry rights to Mukasa’s estate. Despite this ruling, the government and the stock farm allegedly continued to occupy the land without fulfilling their financial obligations.
Dr. Peter Beine, the executive director of NAGRIC, stated that he was unaware of the letter or the claim but promised to investigate the matter and provide clarity upon his return to office.
The Njeru Stock Farm, established as a government demonstration project, spans approximately 1,099 acres. It hosts facilities such as a liquid nitrogen production center, a breeding hub, and training grounds for farmers and students.
The farm has been at the center of multiple ownership claims over the years. A 2019 Auditor General’s report revealed competing claims on the land, while a 2014 investigation by the Inspector General of Government highlighted irregularities in its management. The report noted that Njeru Town Council had sub-leased 306 acres of the farm to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1969.
Ms. Nanyondo asserts that her family’s ownership of the 190-acre parcel is indisputable and supported by court rulings and investigations. She has called on the government to honor its obligations and resolve the matter promptly.
The Mukasa family has demanded that the government pay the arrears within 10 days of receiving the letter, threatening further legal action if no progress is made.