UGANDA, Masindi | Real Muloodi News | Ezekiel Kasaija, the LC1 Chairperson for Kasongoire Village in Masindi District, Budongo Sub-county, has been apprehended by the police for allegedly selling community land.
The arrest follows complaints from area residents, and Kasaija is currently detained at Kabango police station in Kabango Town Council.
Julius Kyahurwa, the sub-county chairperson, disclosed that Kasaija’s arrest on Wednesday was prompted by grievances from residents concerning his actions.
Kasaija stands accused of selling several plots of the community land that was earmarked for market construction, actively discouraging inquiries from those attempting to understand his activities.
The contested land, situated in Kasongoire Parish, was initially allocated for cotton cultivation in the 1970s.
However, it remained idle after residents discontinued cotton farming.
Kyahurwa emphasised that Kasaija allegedly sold the plots as his own, utilising non-executive committee members to sign land sale agreements under the guise of LC executive members. This practice has raised concerns about the misuse of offices among certain LC1 chairpersons in the sub-county, with Kyahurwa pointing out instances of similar transactions in other LCs.
Emmy Ngabirano, the Resident District Commissioner for Masindi, confirmed Kasaija’s arrest and condemned the act of selling public land.
Ngabirano, critical of Kasaija’s actions, deemed it criminal for area chairpersons to engage in such transactions, asserting that Kasaija’s arrest should serve as a deterrent to other LC1 chairpersons in the district involved in dubious land dealings.
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