Kampala — GOVERNMENT has given part of the land belonging to the agricultural ministry to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), amidst protest from the agriculture minister, MPs have heard.

The ministry's permanent secretary, Vincent Rubarema, on Thursday told MPs on the public accounts committee that the decision to give away the land was taken by the Inter-ministerial committee, under the office of the Prime Minister.

Rubarema, together with other officials from the ministry, were appearing before the committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General's report for the year 2007.

The land, whose acreage Rubarema could not give, was being used for livestock experimentation in Entebbe.

"The ministry has to respect and implement the decisions of the inter-ministerial committee and cabinet," Rubarema said.

He told the committee chaired by Nandala Mafabi that the land, which was given out in 2007, is meant to enable CAA expand its airport related activities.

The move follows a long time land dispute between the two entities which started way back in 1998, when President Yoweri Museveni directed that livestock activities on the land stop and the land be given to CAA.

However, the then minister, Bright Rwamirama, opposed the decision, saying his ministry was not extensively consulted on the matter.

In the August 9, 2007 letter to the Prime Minister, Rwamirama noted that the decision to give the land to CAA was based on a report which was not signed, and the ministry's views on the matter were not incorporated.

"The ministry's input was not included in the submitted report. Therefore, the report can not be used as the basis for final recommendations to solve wrangles between the ministry and CAA," Rwamirama wrote.

The land previously housed the animal quarantine station, poultry vaccination production unit, national veterinary laboratories and diagnostic center, dairy training center and a national livestock registry.

The units are mandatory for every country targeting export or importation of animals and animal products.

He explained that because of the re-allocation of the land, there is no adequate land for grazing, holding ground, nor space for construction of housing structures for suspected or infected animals.

He added that the incarceration facilities were not considered nor facilities for clinical examination.

"The purpose of writing to you is to demand for a fair hearing and justice. We need to have the last meeting and report to cabinet for a final say," Rwamirama's letter read.

Despite the plea, Rubarema said cabinet upheld its earlier position and gave away the land to CAA.

Nandala also ordered Rubarema to furnish the committee with details a veterinary officer for Ntungamo district alleged to have colluded with a UPDF officer to sell off 100 acres of agricultural ministry land in Kizinga-Ngoma sub-county, Ntungamo. Rubarema, however, said the Mbarara High Court had already ruled in favour of the applicant.