“Dying for A Snack: How Junk Food is Killing Uganda’s Children.”
Shift Media News 
By PATRICK JARAMOGI
TORORO, Uganda March 27 [SHIFT MEDIA] In a sprawling corner of Uganda, the conflict over 320 acres of land in UTRO Tororo has sparked a fiery debate, pitting the ambitions of Pastor Jefferson Okello against the deeply entrenched resistance of local communities. Okello, the founder and leader of Royal City Ministries in Najjera, Wakiso, has now become the center of a battle that some believe is driven by greed, while others view it as a clash between progress and tradition.
For Pastor Okello, the conflict is nothing more than a challenge to his vision for the future—a vision rooted in providing essential services for Ugandans. In an exclusive interview, Okello addressed accusations levied against him and provided insight into his side of the story. He explained that the land, which has been the subject of intense scrutiny, was legally acquired through a 49-year lease with the Uganda Land Commission.
“It has been a long process,” Okello explains, speaking with quiet determination. “We went through the right channels, including a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment. This land is government property, under the Uganda Land Commission’s jurisdiction. Our goal is not just to build something for ourselves, but to create something that will benefit all Ugandans,”
At the heart of Okello’s ambitious plans is a USD 1.5 billion multipurpose development, Africa Tech University, which includes a state-of-the-art medical facility, an ultra-modern university, and a five-star hotel. He said Africa Tech University will.integrate science, technology, research, engineering, and innovation with business. “Our vision is to create a world-class university committed to raising a new breed of leaders to champion transformation in Africa,” he said. Okello said their core values are based on principles of spirituality, excellence, integrity and inclusivity.
Okello believes that his project will revolutionize healthcare and education in Uganda, and he is particularly keen on the idea that Ugandans will no longer need to travel abroad for treatment.
“Ugandans will stop going to India for treatment,” Okello proudly asserts. “This will be a beacon of development in Africa, not just in Uganda. We’re talking about a world-class university, not Makerere University, but something that will set a new standard.”
But not everyone shares Okello’s enthusiasm. His project has attracted the ire of local communities, particularly those from Abur and Kayoro villages, who have lived in the area for generations. These communities, represented by the Ikarwok and Isabya clans, claim that the land has been in their possession for centuries, despite the government’s official transfer of ownership.
In November of last year, Okello began dropping construction and renovation materials at the site, triggering resistance from some villagers. According to Okello, individuals who had illegally occupied the former UTRO staff quarters stirred up opposition, demanding a sum of over UGX 400 million before allowing construction to proceed.
“These people are trying to blackmail me,” Okello says, frustration creeping into his voice. “They occupied the land illegally, and now they want money before we can build. They are fighting a losing battle. They don’t want to see progress.”
The situation escalated quickly, and Okello was forced to take legal action. He filed a case at the Chief Magistrates Court in Tororo, where a locus was conducted. According to Okello, the court found that many of the claims made by the opposing parties were unfounded, with the supposed plantations of maize and cassava nowhere to be found.
The Magistrate, Her Worship Hellen Edimu, ruled that the intruders could not afford to pay legal costs and suggested mediation between the two parties. Okello complied, offering transportation assistance to those who had been claiming the land, a gesture he describes as an attempt to facilitate peace.
Despite this ruling, the pressure from his opponents has not relented. Accusations of land theft have reached the highest levels of government, with some suggesting that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, might intervene in the matter. However, when contacted, Gen Muhoozi distanced himself from the claims, reaffirming that the government encourages investment for job creation and national development.
“The country needs investors who create jobs and contribute to development,” Gen Muhoozi remarked. “We support such efforts. The matter is being investigated, but the focus should be on what the project will bring to Uganda.”
Despite these assurances, the struggle for the land continues, and both sides remain entrenched in their positions. For Okello, this conflict is more than just a legal battle; it is a deeply personal fight for the future of Uganda, and he is determined to see his vision through.
“I started Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery,” Okello reflects. “We’ve graduated over 6,000 nurses, and that 30-acre facility is just the beginning, to b precise, Mbale is -0.0001 of the Tororo project. What we are building in Tororo will be massive. This is not just about me or my ministry. This is about creating opportunities for the next generation.”
The land dispute in UTRO Tororo is emblematic of a broader tension in Uganda—one where tradition often clashes with modernity, and where the dreams of a few are held up by the fears of many. Pastor Jefferson Okello is not just fighting for land; he is fighting for his vision of a better Uganda, a vision that some see as a beacon of progress and others as a threat to their way of life.
As the battle continues, all eyes will remain on the outcome of this legal and social struggle. Will Pastor Okello’s vision of progress come to fruition, or will the forces of resistance succeed in blocking his ambitious project? Only time will tell.
