UGANDA, Mpigi | Real Muloodi News | The Lands Ministry is set to cancel up to 321 land titles in Mpigi District, allegedly issued without the consent of the original owners.
These pieces of land are in Mawokota on Block 175 and in Kanyike, Gunda, Kaweri, Jabiro, Kataba, and Butega. The ministry claims the titles were issued erroneously.
Ms Aisha Kabira, an employee of the ministry, wrote on behalf of the commissioner for land registration, requesting those affected to show cause why their titles should not be cancelled.
“This office received a complaint from the Administrators of Sebugulu Estate in respect of land comprised in Mawokota Block 175 (Mallo Register Volume 289 Folio 10) Land at Kanyike, Gunda, Kaweri, Jabiro, Kataba, and Butega requesting for cancellation of the above-mentioned certificates of title that were allegedly erroneously issued over their land,” the notice stated.
Captain Francis Babu, a former Kampala Central lawmaker, is among those accused of obtaining a land title erroneously.
He denied the claims, stating, “The estate they are talking about is Sebugulu Estate. Sebugulu has got his estate, but not this one. This estate was given to his son Lusalide when he was alive. So that land belongs to Lusalide’s line. When he died, his daughters got those lines, and these guys complaining are not the administrators of the land.”
The petitioners allege the land belongs to the family of Lodoviko Wakulira, the registered owner of the land.
They claim that the creation of a special certificate of title for Mawokota Block 175 Plot 34, with an area of 2300 acres, was erroneous as it did not reflect the mother title it purported to replace.
They added that the said plot was already issued in the name of Lodoviko Wakulira.
Ms Kabira, in a notice dated May 31, 2024, stated that the complainants allege they own the land and question how surveys are being conducted without their knowledge.
“This is, therefore, to give you notice that this office shall proceed to entertain the claim made by the Administrators of the estate of the late Sefirini Katende Sebugulu and to request you to respond within 21 days from the date of service,” the notice said.
A public hearing regarding this matter is scheduled for June 27, 2024, at 10 a.m., where objections will be heard.
“By copy of this notice, the complainants are informed and also required to attend the hearing with all documents pertaining to this land,” the notice added.
Those served with the notice to defend their land titles include Mr. Keto Kayemba, President of the Pan African Federation of Accountants, Captain Babu, and Mr. Lawrence Mulindwa, proprietor of St. Mary Boarding Secondary School Kitende, among others.
Captain Babu stated that he and others who acquired the land in the area did so legally.
He said, “The reason why I’m furious with this is because it’s all lies. Even Mulindwa got the land from the father who got land in that block many years ago.”
He explained that he bought his land in 2000 from the daughters of the late Lusalidde, to whom the land was given by the late Lodoviko Wakulira.
He explained, “They went to court and were defeated because the court realised that they were not the administrators of the land. I also personally went to the administrator’s office and found out these people were not the administrators of the land.”
Captain Babu claimed that the complainants’ land does not extend to the contested area.
Captain Babu said, “They have been to court and have been beaten three times… and I’m surprised the commissioner cannot check in his archive and see that each one of us bought that land officially.”
Ms Dorcus Okalany, the Lands Ministry permanent secretary (PS), declined to comment on how the ministry issued titles to other people when the land already had titles issued by the same ministry.
PS Okalany referred inquiries to the undersecretary, who was unavailable for comment.
Land disputes are common across Uganda, with the High Court Land Division in Kampala registering an average of 35 cases monthly.
Since the beginning of this year, the division has registered 161 cases in the last five months.
List of Affected Individuals and Entities
– Kayemba SKM & Keto Kayemba P.O. Box 12146
– Cephas Birungi Kagyenda & Enock Barata T/A Kampala Birungi, Barata & Associates Legal & Tax Consultants
– Teddy Tebafluza P.O. Box 15216 Kampala
– Rashid Kakande P.O. Box 566 Kampala
– Harriet Muwanguzi P.O. Box 2942 Kampala
– George Byamukama & Ashley Komugisha
– Ssemaato Suliat PO.Box 29424 Kampala
– Benard Ssegujja P.O. Box 28456, Kampala
– Anderson Arnold Mujwiga P.O. Box 75032, Kampala
– Vincent Ssali P.O. Box 15032, Kampala
– Ssamula Zaverio P.O.Box 28456, Kampala
– Stella Nakiflo, Anderson Mulinde, Betty Namirembe
– Administrators of the estate of the late Nabakalu
– Hon. Captain E. Francis Babu P.O. Box 7270
– Lawrence Mulindwa P.O. Box 30583, Kampala
– Robinah Namulema P.O. Box 172, Mpigi
– Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited P.O. Box 7131, Kampala
The Ministry of Lands continues to investigate the legitimacy of these titles and the complaints raised by the original landowners.
The public hearing scheduled for June 27, 2024, is expected to address these issues and determine the future of the disputed land titles.
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