An auditor’s report has uncovered the absence of four crucial land titles from the Lands inventory at Mbarara district headquarters. These missing titles include Kamukuzi land measuring 10 hectares, Unicef Land, Kakyeka Stadium land, and Bwizibwera land measuring 110 acres.
David Muhwezi, the Chief Administrative Officer of Mbarara district, revealed to the District Public Accounts committee that upon his arrival at Mbarara, he was given photocopied land titles. However, a subsequent verification revealed that seven original land titles were missing.
Expressing further concern, Muhwezi noted the absence of the land title for the Bwizibwera land, located in Bwizibwera – Rutooma Town Council, earmarked for the construction of the district headquarters. This land has been encroached upon by the former District Chairperson, Fred Ibabaza Kamugira, who acquired a title for an acre of land within it.
Muhwezi highlighted the encroachment issue on the land where the current district headquarters in Kamukuzi is situated, indicating that twenty plots out of the original thirty-seven were illegally grabbed and removed from the land title in the system. This has complicated efforts to obtain a special land title for Kamukuzi.
Accountability-wise, Muhwezi attributed the responsibility for the missing land titles to former Chief Administrative Officer Edward Kasagara. However, Kasagara has committed to facilitating their recovery and has already paid 11 million Shillings for this purpose.
Herbert Kamugisha, Chairperson of the District Public Accounts Committee, directed the Chief Administrative Officer to formally request an investigation into the matter by the Anti-Corruption Unit and the Inspector General of Government.
The committee further recommended the retrieval of the original land titles and summoned Fred Kamugira to elucidate how he acquired land within government property. Kamugira is also expected to face prosecution for his actions.
