Once seen as the true face of an overdue administrative refurbishment of the inefficient, corrupt and backward Ministry of Lands, Baker Mugaino – Commissioner for Land Registration could finally be on his way out of the Ministry the same unceremoniously way that has seen many other reformists fall at the hands of the powerful figures working in league with sophisticated mafias to deny the masses quality services.
We have reliably learned that Ministry PS, Dorcas Okalany has already moved to have Mugaino replaced from his position and ultimately replaced by Bigira Johnson, the man erroneously pushed for the position months ago before Mugaino was announced for the promotion.
” Following the interdiction of Baker Mugaino who was Commissioner Land Registration and head of that department, the Ministry is submitting IFMS computer user form for Mr Byiringiro Bigira Johnson- Acting Commissioner Land Registration ( Assignment letter attached)who is acting as the new head of department for approval on IFMS.
The purpose of this letterbox to request you replace Mr Mugaino Baker with Mr Byiringiro Bigira Johnsonas the new head of department. ” reads the 4th June letter from PS Okalany to the Accountant General Ministry of Finance.
Shockingly, the letter was written the same day Mugaino was arrested and sent to Luzira prison for a night before being bailed the following day. Eagle eyed observers have pointed to a possible foul play aimed at first denting Mugaino’s image as a person under investigations by the IGG before Okalany can finally have his man in the coveted office as everyone else is looking the other way.
It should be noted that Okalany has vigorously pushed for Bigira’s elevation to Commissioner against Mugaino, only for Public Service to trash her plea on grounds that her man hand fraudulently joined the ranks with a Pass Degree with is against the procedure.
Mugaino had also been for the famous block chain technology to replace the overly expensive information system under which the PS has been spending nearly shillings six billion annually. The system is reported to have been flawed by immense mistakes resulting in double titling and other avenues to facilitate fraud. In the wake of Mugaino’s interdiction directive by IGG Kamya, he had just counseled over 1500 land titles in the Mukono Zonal area, with other 2500 earmarked for Wakiso, and later Bukalasa. It was, thus surprising that the man at the forefront of fighting double titling which had taken place years before was even in the Ministry could be accused of the same vice.
More disturbing even is that Okalany had written to the Attorney General for guidance concerning Mugaino’s interdiction directive and the AG advised against the order, guiding that only the president had the power to subject the Commissioner to any disciplinary measure. ” This is to advise that vide article 182(1) (a) of the constitution of the republic of Uganda, the power to exercise disciplinary control over Mr Baker Mugaino , the Commissioner Land Registration is a preserve of His Excellence the President,” reads AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka’s 16, May dated letter to Okalany.
Muagaino had also secured a court order restraining the IGG from going ahead with the interdiction and this formed part of the PS’ request for the AG’s guidance.
As things continue moving in this direction, hope that something could be done to revert the situation and have the president’s well intentioned efforts to foster effective, efficient changes at the ministry realised is simmering. There is still hope, however, that President Museveni, who in February this year wrote to the PS to fasttrack Mugaino’s game changer block chain technology actualization amid intense opposition from the top leadership at the ministry.
