The Commissioner of Land Registration in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development has taken action to cancel the title of a disputed piece of land in Masaka City, following allegations of fraudulent transactions and illegal land dealings.
The affected land, located on Plot 21 Grant Street in Masaka City, was originally registered under Masaka Municipality’s name before being transferred to a private developer. However, investigations revealed irregularities in the transfer process, prompting the cancellation of the title.
The decision to cancel the title comes after a whistleblower’s complaint to the police, alleging fraudulent activities related to the council land. It was discovered that the land title for Plot 21 Grant Street was illegally created in the name of Masijid Jamia Cinema Masaka Limited without proper authorization from the Masaka Town Council.
Further investigations revealed that the land title was subsequently transferred to Jane Nansikombi and later sold to Muhammad Miiro, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the transactions. The police report recommended the cancellation of the certificate of title due to these fraudulent activities.
Ms. Nansinkombi, one of the parties involved in the transaction, admitted to participating in the sale of the disputed land without conducting due diligence. She explained that she was approached by land brokers who misrepresented the situation, leading to her involvement in the dubious transaction.
Local officials, including the Nyendo-Mukungwe Municipality Mayor, Mr. Michael Mulindwa Nakumusana, emphasized that the Masaka Town Council never intended to sell the disputed land. They condemned the fraudulent activities that led to the irregular sale of public properties and open spaces.
The cancellation of the land title serves as a warning to other developers engaged in dubious land transactions within Masaka City. Officials pledge to review the city property inventory to identify any other instances of fraudulent land dealings that may have occurred.
The discovery of missing land titles for 20 properties owned by the city raises further concerns about the integrity of land management processes. Properties affected include public facilities such as playgrounds, markets, health centers, and government offices. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the missing titles are ongoing.
