UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) does not have a land register, according to Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions Statutory Authority and State Enterprises (COSASE) on 24th February, Lukwago stated that the lack of a land register has created a leadership vacuum at the authority.
He added that it has become difficult to track down individuals who steal KCCA properties without a register.
Lukwago highlighted the case of Plot 71 on Nkrumah Road, which was leased to KCCA but then given to the Uganda Land Commission after the expiry of the lease.
The land had previously housed a medical dispensary, which was providing health services to the local community.
However, according to Lukwago, the land was illegally given to a private individual who built a commercial structure and is not remitting fees to KCCA.
The absence of a land register has made it difficult for KCCA to recover the property, and the individual responsible has not been prosecuted.
“KCCA has no hospital in Kampala. We just have health centres, our people are dying and the property is gone who took it, the gentleman is around town and he has not been prosecuted. So, there is impunity and yet we have exhausted all our processes,” Lukwago said.
Lukwago suggested that the land register be digitalised so that anyone can access it and know the properties that KCCA possesses. This would make it easier to track down individuals who steal KCCA properties.
Lukwago called for a standalone audit on KCCA land to deal with such matters exhaustively.
“It is time to be guided by the committee, what do we need to do as the leadership of KCCA to recover this asset. The duty of this committee is to ensure we deal with impunity so that once we recover these assets and we can recover more, people should know that touching public assets is dangerous,” Lukwago said.
When asked about the 242 pieces of land mentioned in the Attorney General’s report, Lukwago stated that some responses captured by the Attorney General were verbal, and there was no record within KCCA indicating that those land titles exist.
“You said there is no register with them but the Attorney General report is communicating that they are 242 pieces of land, if there is no register where is that information coming from?” Richard Gafabusa (Bwamba County) asked.
The chairperson of the committee, Joel Senyonyi, promised to inquire whether the land is tracked and monitored and if it is titled.
“We shall talk with the accounting officer who will give us the records,” Senyonyi said.
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
Court Directs KCCA to Endorse Katanga Land Development Plans
