The Minister of Lands Betty Amongi has clarified on the contested land between Soroti University and the people of Aputon in Arapai Sub County in Soroti district.
Area residents accuse the university management of attempts to evict them from their land. According to Amongi, Soroti University only owns 184 hectares of land in block 7, which was given to Teso College of Higher Education (TECHE) by Teso College Aloet (TCA).
Amongi rushed to Soroti over the weekend with a 1952 detailed map extract following the escalation of tension between residents and the university over the disputed land.
During the meeting, Patrick Okabe, the Chairperson of Teso Parliamentary Group, asked the Soroti University task-force to concentrate on opening the university.
Professor Robert Ikoja Odongo, the Chairperson of the Soroti University Task-force denied claims of land grabbing, saying they have never added even a single inch of land on what they were given.
Patrick Malinga, a resident of Apuuton village hailed government for coming to their rescue to re-establish the boundaries between the university and the people
John Otuba, the Aloet central village Chairperson, said the boundary reopening will harmonise the relationship between the residents and university management.
