UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The has been a twist in the controversial USh370 billion land deal between Government of Uganda and city tycoon John Bosco Muwonge, after a woman has come forward claiming ownership of the 10-acre piece of land in Kisenyi.
Ms Eseza Nola Nakibuuka, through her lawyers, wrote to Minister of Finance claiming ownership of the Kisenyi land, and accused the businessman’s company, Boost Investments Ltd, of fraudulently obtaining the Kisenyi land certificate of titles.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago last week criticised the 10-acre Kisenyi land deal in which Government, through the Ministry of Finance, is negotiating to purchase the land from the city businessman at what the Mayor calls an unreasonable cost.
Ms Nakibuuka now wants the Ministry of Finance to halt the proposed purchase of the Kisenyi land.
In a letter dated January 5 and written to Mr Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Ms Nakibuuka, through her lawyers, cautions that paying Boost Investments Limited for the disputed land may result in the loss of public monies.
Ms Nakibuuka’s lawyers, Obed Mwebesa and Associates, claim that the late Erenesti Keresipo Kizito obtained the land through succession.
“However, Boost Investments Limited, well aware of the deceased’s interest in the land, applied for and obtained fraudulently certificate of titles to the above land. This was done by falsely representing to Uganda Land Commission (ULC) that the land was not registered under private Mailo,” the letter states.
Additionally, Mr Mwebesa asserts that because the site did not belong under ULC’s purview, the company lacked the authority to issue the stated lease.
He said that the High Court of Uganda Land Division is still hearing the case.
“Our client has learnt that Government of Uganda is in the process of releasing the money to Boost Investments Limited to purchase the said land for purposes of settling street vendors before the above case is heard and disposed of,” the letter states.
It adds: “This is to request you to immediately put on halt the said payment of the above money to Boost Investments Limited as court still has an obligation to adjudicate over the issue of ownership of the said land. This will save government from losing money in case court rules in our client’s favour.”
The land in dispute is LRV folio 14, Plots 1048, 1049, 1550, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287,288, 289, and 290 in Mengo, Kibuga Kisenyi.
The letter is also copied to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Beti Kamya, the Executive Director of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Dorothy Kisaka, and Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago..
“By copy of this letter, all the relevant offices are notified of the above and requested to intervene where need be,” the letter further states.
Response from the Finance Ministry
Jim Mugunga, spokesman for the Finance Ministry, said the Ministry is not responsible for negotiating nor undertaking due diligence on the disputed land, rather this responsibility falls to the relevant accounting officers and line ministries and their internal controls.
Mr Mugunga explained, “They prudently use support agencies such as lands registry and the office of the Attorney General, among others. The ministry’s role is to allocate resources as appropriated by Parliament. In doing so, we do not take over or supersede in our mandate responsibilities of ministry departments and agencies.”
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