For years, the fierce contest over hundreds of acres of land in Njeru, Buikwe District, has been publicly framed as a dispute over ownership, leases, evictions and competing government interests.
But a startling dossier released by Major General (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire has shifted the narrative dramatically.
According to Otafiire, the struggle has very little to do with farming, industrial development or land administration. Instead, he argues, the real prize lies beneath the surface: potentially lucrative gold deposits whose commercial value could run into hundreds of millions of dollars if exploration confirms economically viable reserves.
The explosive allegations have opened a new chapter in one of Uganda’s most politically sensitive land disputes, raising questions about whether powerful government officials, politically connected investors and influential business interests are battling over what could become one of the country’s most valuable mineral discoveries.
From Land Wrangles to a Gold Rush
The controversy erupted after reports claimed that soldiers had evicted gold miners from the disputed Njeru Stock Farm land and alleged that the mining activities belonged to Otafiire himself. The veteran NRA bush war commander has categorically denied owning any mining operation.
Instead, he says he merely granted permission to a private company to conduct preliminary exploration after being approached by mining entrepreneur Sam K. Njuba Jr.
“I do not own the mining project,” Otafiire says. He argues that many reports deliberately ignored one of the most fundamental principles of Uganda’s mining laws—that ownership of land does not translate into ownership of the minerals beneath it.
Under Article 244 of the Constitution, all minerals belong to the people of Uganda, with the Government holding them in trust.
Consequently, even if an individual owns land, they cannot legally mine gold without licences issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
That distinction, Otafiire argues, has been intentionally blurred to portray him as secretly operating a gold mine.
How the Project Started
According to Otafiire, the journey began when Sam K. Njuba Jr., proprietor of TAAYASA Minerals Ltd, approached him seeking permission to investigate whether the rocky outcrops on the Njeru property contained commercially viable mineral deposits.
Njuba is not an unknown figure in Uganda’s mining industry.
Otafiire describes him as an experienced mining engineer who has built a reputation through work in Mubende, Karamoja and Buhweju—areas well known for artisanal gold mining.
He is also the son of Major (Rtd) Gertrude Njuba, a senior presidential adviser and head of the State House Land Protection Unit.
Initially, Otafiire says, he laughed off the proposal.
However, impressed by Njuba’s technical expertise and willingness to finance exploration from his own resources, he eventually allowed the geological investigations to proceed.
According to Otafiire, the early results were encouraging.
He claims the exploration pointed to promising mineralisation, fuelling optimism that the area could contain commercially viable gold deposits.
The Alleged Destruction
Otafiire alleges that the exploration project never reached its logical conclusion because of interference by powerful individuals.
Without providing documentary evidence in his public statement, he directly accuses State Minister Bright Rwamirama and unnamed associates of storming the exploration site and demolishing infrastructure established by TAAYASA Minerals.
According to Otafiire, the destruction caused significant financial losses.
He says Njuba had financed the exploration largely from personal resources while simultaneously caring for his son, who later succumbed to cancer.
The retired General portrays the incident as more than a simple land dispute.
Instead, he argues it represents an attempt to frustrate an emerging Ugandan investor in favour of entrenched interests.
At the time of publication, Rwamirama had not publicly responded to Otafiire’s allegations, and his account should therefore be understood as one side of a disputed matter.
“The Greed Is About Gold”
Perhaps the most explosive aspect of Otafiire’s statement is his suggestion that hidden commercial interests—not agriculture—are driving the prolonged contest over the land.
He questions why influential figures have shown extraordinary interest in preserving control over the disputed acreage.
“If commercial quantities of gold are eventually confirmed,” Otafiire argues, “the venture would transform the local economy through employment, infrastructure development and increased government revenues.”
He points out that Uganda’s Mining Act provides for the Uganda National Mining Company to automatically acquire a 15 percent free-carried interest in qualifying medium- or large-scale mining projects, with an option to purchase an additional 15 percent stake.
In other words, successful mining would not only benefit private investors but also directly involve the State.
That reality, he argues, explains why competition has intensified.
A Multi-Billion-Dollar Prize?
Otafiire repeatedly emphasises the global value of gold.
He notes that international prices remain exceptionally high and argues that confirmation of commercial reserves would dramatically change the economic importance of Njeru.
While geological exploration alone cannot confirm the existence of economically recoverable deposits, mining experts generally agree that even relatively modest discoveries can attract major international investment.
Should exploration prove successful, Njeru could become one of Uganda’s newest mining frontiers.
However, no publicly available feasibility study has yet confirmed commercial gold reserves in the area.
The Shadow of Powerful Cartels
Another striking claim concerns what Otafiire describes as organised gold cartels operating in Uganda.
He alleges that entrenched networks already dominate mining activities in districts such as Mubende, Karamoja and Buhweju.
According to him, these networks exploit artisanal miners while maintaining control over processing and marketing.
Without naming individuals or companies, Otafiire suggests these interests view new entrants as threats.
His allegations echo longstanding concerns raised by analysts about transparency in Uganda’s rapidly expanding gold industry, although he offers no direct evidence linking specific cartels to the Njeru dispute.
Museveni’s Earlier Directive
Otafiire also revisits a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni on 17 February 2023.
According to Otafiire, the President instructed the Ministries of Agriculture, Lands and Justice to explore allocating approximately 450 acres of the disputed land to Modern Ventures Limited.
Otafiire argues that this directive reflected recognition that the stock farm’s legal claim to the land had weakened following court proceedings.
He questions why the dispute has nevertheless persisted despite the presidential guidance.
His conclusion is provocative.
He asks whether maintaining the stock farm has become merely a convenient justification for retaining control over land that may conceal valuable mineral wealth.
Legal Questions
The dispute also illustrates the complex relationship between land ownership and mineral rights in Uganda.
Ownership of land does not automatically grant mining rights.
Before any commercial extraction begins, investors must obtain exploration licences, prove the existence of viable deposits, secure access to the land and receive mining licences from the Commissioner for Geological Survey and Mines.
The process is intended to protect both landowners and the public interest.
However, where valuable minerals are suspected, overlapping claims over land access often become politically contentious.
Unanswered Questions
Several critical questions remain unanswered:
Has independent geological analysis confirmed commercially viable gold deposits in Njeru?
Who ordered the demolition of the exploration infrastructure?
Were all regulatory approvals obtained before exploration commenced?
Why has the dispute attracted the involvement of senior government officials?
Could competing commercial interests be influencing administrative decisions?
Until those questions are independently investigated, competing narratives are likely to continue.
A Dispute That Goes Beyond Land
What once appeared to be a conventional land wrangle now carries the hallmarks of a much larger struggle involving natural resources, investment and political influence.
If Otafiire’s assertions are substantiated, the Njeru dispute may ultimately be remembered not as a fight over 450 acres of land, but as the opening chapter in Uganda’s next major gold story.
For now, however, many of the central claims—including allegations against senior officials, the existence of commercially recoverable gold and the motives behind administrative decisions—remain contested and unproven. They are likely to require independent investigation by the relevant authorities before definitive conclusions can be drawn.
As the competing claims continue to unfold, one thing is increasingly clear: beneath the surface of the Njeru land conflict lies a battle whose stakes may extend far beyond real estate, reaching into the future of Uganda’s mineral wealth and the governance of one of its potentially most valuable natural resources.
Otafiire Letter verbatim
On 15 July 2026 the New Vision as part of its recent poorly researched and unverified attacks against me, ran a story that the army had evicted gold miners from Njeru stock farm and went ahead to further state that the said miners were under my employ and that I owned the gold mining project.
Any diligent and experienced journalist would offhand know that under Article 244 of the Ugandan Constitution , it states that all minerals belong to the people of Uganda and the government holds the same in trust for the people. Hence the government is mandated by the constitution and recently passed Mining Act to regulate, control and license any mining activities in the country.
One may have or own the land where the mineral deposit is found (land rights) but the ownership of the subsurface minerals (mineral rights) belong to the government of Uganda in trust for the people of Uganda.
The law allows for any citizen or investor with interest in engaging in the mining sector would first be required to apply for and be granted a prospecting license and exploration license from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. The Commissioner Geology and Mines grants the same after payment of the prescribed fees over a defined area allocated to the applicant (company or individual).
Whereas the prospecting license is granted for one year and covers prospective search over the country, it is non-exclusive and non-renewable, an exploration license is granted for 4 years over an area of 250 km² and renewable once for 3 years and subject to relinquishment upon renewal.
The holder of an exploration permit is expected to carry out secondary survey, exploration, soil and rock testing, and drill a specified number of “holes” to verify and confirm the mineralisation of the rock to confirm presence of the mineral ore. This is followed by extensive testing to confirm the source rock or gold vein, size, depth, purity as well as any other minerals within the exploration area.
It is only upon confirmation of occurrence of mineralisation and or commercial reserves that the exploration licence holder can apply for either a small scale, medium or large scale mining licence and these have different benefits and protections under the law. The mining permit would then be granted after proving to the commissioner geology and mines that the applicant has/had acquired the land rights or access.
Not all exploration and or permit holders have the right to enter and operate on private land in Uganda. The applicant must demonstrate that they have equally obtained rights to the land where the mining activity is expected to be carried out.The land rights or access may be acquired in various ways being outright purchase of the land rights from the land owner, lease, joint venture or partnership that may take different forms depending on the structure of the entity and financing, it is upon satisfying the commissioner lands or the obtainment of the above that one can claim to hold a valid mining rights/permit.
Under the New Mining Act the confirmation of presence and commercial deposit of any mineral and upon the grant of a large scale or medium scale mining permit would automatically trigger Section 179 of the Mining Act that would cause for the Uganda National Mining Company to acquire a free carried interest 15% and an option to purchase at an agreed commercial consideration another 15% stake in the company venture.
Any decent investor knows that a gold mine venture is the only mining venture that can be project financed as a greenfield project after the commercial reserves have been ascertained and proven, the rationale is gold in money whether dust, nuggets or pebbles and at the global rate of 140,000 US per kilo the presence of gold potential in Njeru should be good news to the country and not used to misled and misinform the public.
I was approached by a company called TAAYASA Minerals limited, owned by a Ugandan renowned mining engineer/entrepreneur Mr. Sam K. Njuba, who has made a name and reputation in the Mubende, Karamoja, Buhweju areas for his vast knowledge of Ugandas known hot spots on gold artisanal mining. Mr. Sam Njuba jnr. is the son of my fellow bush war fighter Major (Rtd) Gertrude Njuba a senior presidential advisor and head of the State house land protection unit. He is also the grand son of the famous Bishop of the West Buganda Diocese His Eminence Bishop Mukasa.
His proposal was for me to grant him access and permission to carry out prospective investigation into the likelihood and occurrence of gold and or other mineralisation on the rocks on the Njeru outcrop.
I must honestly admit I laughed at his request, but having known the hard-working person that Sam Njuba Jr is and his unique skill set as an entrepreneur and mining engineer, who was ready and willing at his cost to carry out the exploration, survey, tests and analyses. Very few Ugandans are honest and intentional with such vision and drive to undertake such ventures.
The mining exploration activities that were carried out were very promising until the greed, ignorance, and lack of savoir-faire exhibited by Hon. Bright Rwamwirama and Co. that led to the storming and demolition of his investment which he single-handedly funded out of pocket while looking after and attending to his sick son who unfortunately recently passed having put up a spirited fight with cancer.
Hon. Bright Rwamwirama and Co. have not only put poor Sam Njuba under a difficult financial position having destroyed the infrastructure that he had set up bu also made it hard to continue while all thinking that Kahinda Otafiire owned the activity. I can only sympathise on the loss and financial challenges Njuba is facing with the several partners he had engaged and brought on board his project and the vast opportunities that such a venture would open to the Basoga in Jinja and the Ugandan economy.
Very little is written or commented about the gold cartels in Mubende, Buhweju, and Karamoja exploiting the artisanal small-scale miners in those areas, to refining and processing gold. This cartel holds a monopoly and feels any innovating entrepreneur should not progress in the mining sector.
Such lack of vision and myopic thinking is what the original Fronasa fought against and it is very sad and sickening to see a son of the FRONASA, NRA historical and bush war hero comrade Major (Rtd) Gertrude Njuba is forced to bear due to the greed of a few.
If the exploration and investment materialised as was expected any decent investor knows that a gold mine venture is the only mining venture that can be project financed as a greenfield project after the commercial reserves have been ascertained and proven. The rationale is simple, gold is money whether dust, nuggets or pebbles and at the global rate of USD $140,000 per kilo the presence of gold potential in Njeru should be good news to the country and not used to misled and misinform the public.
My honest bargain with Mr. Sam K Njuba Jnr was upon his confirmation of commercial quantities of mineral deposit either gold or any other, in exchange for a share in the venture or royalty payments. I would cede the land rights to the venture so that their application and grant of the permit as a condition precedent for the issuance of a mining licence were favourable.
Unfortunately, the said dream may have to wait a bit longer as the greed and ignorance of a few who do not understand and see the big picture of forward and backward linkages such a venture would create for the Njeru, Buikwe and Greater Busoga Area with the intended Jinja-Kampala highway in the offing would open the region to investment.
It is not surprising that the President of Uganda on the letter dated 17th February 2023 directed Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to explore the possibility of giving/allocating that 450 acres of the stock farm to Modern Ventures Limited, well aware that the stock farm had nothing and no claim over land in Njeru after the Re-entry by court.
One can only have to think why ?! Is the presence and existence of the stock farm amidst the growing industries in the area still a strategic investment or a Trojan horse to compulsory acquire land in Njeru and the hidden treasures buried under for some selfish interest.
Thanks for reading through this dossier.
Signed : Kahinda Otafiire MAJ. GENERAL (Rtd.)
RO 00014.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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