Jane Frances Kagaayi the Sembabule Resident District Commissioner has come out to Col Naboth Mwesigwa to give a strong warning emphasizing that allowing his cattle to roam freely and damage the crops of local farmers will not be tolerated.
Kagaayi warned Mwesigwa about the trouble brewing between Sembabule residents and him because of his animals getting into their land. She said everyone, no matter their position, must follow the rules.
This issue started when information came from residents who took matters into their own hands to protect their crops that Col Mwesigwa let his cattle graze on.
Now according to the eyewitness, they say that this has been going on and that he has been leaving his cattle to gaze on their gardens.
This bold defiance shows how frustrated residents are because animals keep ruining their farms.
Last week, NBS Television and Nile Post reported on this, making more people aware of the farming problems in Sembabule.
Their reporting made authorities take action to help the farmers.
On 19th March 2024, the RDC Kagaayi called for a meeting with residents in Sserinya village to address the issue that involves Mwesigwa’s cattle gazing on their farms.
Even though people complained many times and even killed ten of the soldier’s cows before, tensions didn’t go away.
At the meeting, Kagaayi said she invited Col Mwesigwa but he didn’t come.
Vincent Ssentongo, the village chairman, felt upset when the soldier accused him of killing one of his cows. But Ssentongo said he didn’t do anything wrong and didn’t know anything about it.
Residents are worried that Mwesigwa might want to force them off their land because he’s not cooperating with them or local leaders.
“He’s just renting the farm where his cows graze, but it’s not fenced,” one resident said. “We’re starting to think he might want to take our land because why else would he avoid meetings?”
In response, RDC Kagaayi gave a clear message to Mwesigwa, telling him to stop letting his cows graze on people’s land.
She said that everyone, even if they’re in the military, has to respect property rights and follow farming rules.
“President Museveni grazes here without causing trouble. So why is Colonel Nabboth?” Kagaayi asked.
She promised to protect the residents’ rights and told them to take action by holding onto Mwesigwa’s cows if they trespassed.
But Ssentongo told them to trust in a higher power.
“The Colonel’s cows are guarded by armed men. They might shoot my residents,” Ssentongo warned.
Local leaders said they’ll make sure rules are followed to avoid more problems. They’ll send patrols to watch where the animals go and talk to both farmers and cattle owners to keep things peaceful.
