The Mukaya payam community, in Lainya Count of Central Equatoria, refused to hand over a huge piece of land to foreign investors because they consider the deal signed three years ago illegal.
Three people from Mukaya County leased 600,000 hectares of the land to Nile Trading Company from the US in March 2008 without consulting the community and the authorities in the payam.Lainya County press secretary Lugala Bullen told Radio Easter that paramount chief Scopas Loduwo of Mukaya payam was involved in the deal.
He said the investors went to Mukaya on Saturday to resolve the issue with the local community in order to get possession of the land.
The community refused to give the land to the investors because they consider that it was sold illegally.
Mr. Bullen added that the agreement inked in Mach 2008 allowed the Nile Trading Company to use the land for 49 years.