UGANDA, Lira | Real Muloodi New | A Lira businessman, Anthony Ojuka, found himself in legal hot waters as the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), brought him before the Lira Chief Magistrates Court.
The charges include Fraudulent Procurement of a Certificate of Title and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. Ojuka’s arrest, orchestrated by diligent detectives, culminated in his court appearance on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, where he was subsequently remanded until December 21, 2023.
The allegations against Ojuka stem from his purported involvement in a scheme to fraudulently procure registration for a freehold certificate of title on government land, specifically, plot 17 Ben Emor Road at Ireda Estate.
This illicit activity transpired between February 2019 and September 2020 at the Lira Lands Office in Lira district.
The statement released on November 21, 2023, shed light on the intricate details of the case. It is claimed that a resolution passed by the Lira District Executive Committee in 2017 and 2019 initiated the titling of the mentioned land but with a dubious exclusion of a portion allegedly encroached upon.
Investigations, however, revealed that no encroachment had occurred, pointing to a sinister motive by leaders to misappropriate government land.
According to the statement, the excluded part was clandestinely shared among the political and technical staff of the district.
Ojuka, identified as a political leader, was implicated in passing the contentious resolution and subsequently registering his share in the name of his sister, Hilda Atino.
This case echoes a pattern of fraudulent title acquisitions, with Jofram Waidhuuba, the former Deputy Town Clerk Jinja, summoned to court on similar charges related to a Certification of Title procured between 2018 and 2022.
In September 2023, Hidaya Nassolo faced charges of Forgery and Uttering False documents before the Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court.
The legal consequences for those found guilty under the Anti-Corruption Act or for fraudulent title procurement are severe.
A conviction under section 11(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act could lead to a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine not exceeding 5.3 million shillings.
Similarly, individuals convicted under section 190(1) for fraudulent certificate of title procurement could face imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years.
The legal proceedings underscore a commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability in land transactions.
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