UGANDA, Masaka | Real Muloodi News | The Commissioner of Land Registration in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has taken decisive action by cancelling the title deed of a contentious piece of land within Masaka City, following allegations of fraudulent transactions and land misappropriation.
The revoked land title pertains to Plot 21 Grant Street in Masaka City, which was originally registered under Masaka Municipality before being transferred to a private developer.
Mr. Johnson Bigira, the Commissioner of Land Registration, issued a statement declaring the cancellation of the title and its removal from the register book.
According to Bigira’s statement, the cancellation aims to rectify the irregularities surrounding the land transaction and ensure that justice is served.
He emphasised that any aggrieved party has the right to appeal against this decision within sixty days under Section 91(10) of the Land Act.
The decision to revoke the land title came in response to a whistleblower’s complaint to the police, alleging fraudulent activities related to the acquisition of the council land.
An investigation ensued, revealing that the land title for Plot 21 Grant Street was unlawfully obtained in the name of Masjid Jamia Cinema Masaka Limited without proper authorisation from Masaka Town Council.
Further examination revealed that the transfer of the land title to Jane Nansikombi and subsequently to Muhammad Miiro was conducted without due process and consultation with the relevant authorities.
The police report recommended the cancellation of the certificate of title due to these irregularities.
Ms Nansinkombi, one of the individuals implicated in the transaction, admitted to participating in the sale of the disputed land after being approached by land brokers.
However, she claimed ignorance regarding the fraudulent nature of the transaction and expressed surprise upon learning about the impending cancellation of the land title.
The Mayor of Nyendo-Mukungwe Municipality, Mr Michael Mulindwa Nakumusana, clarified that the council never intended to sell the disputed plots of land.
He asserted that Masjid Jamia was only allocated Plot 19, which was later exploited by speculators to fraudulently carve out Plot 21 from council land.
Nakumusana underscored the need for vigilance among developers to prevent further instances of dubious land transactions.
Mr. Luke Sekamwa, the workers’ city representative, vowed to conduct a comprehensive review of the city property inventory to identify any other instances of land misappropriation or fraudulent transactions.
Last year, concerns were raised when it was discovered that a total of twenty land titles for properties owned by the city were missing, including valuable assets such as playgrounds, markets, health centres, and public institutions.
The cancellation of the Masaka City land title marks a significant step towards combating land fraud and protecting public assets from exploitation and mismanagement.
Authorities remain committed to upholding transparency and accountability in land transactions to safeguard the interests of communities and prevent further encroachment on public land.
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