MASINDI, Uganda – Former Minister for Bunyoro Affairs, Ernest Kiiza Apuuli, has petitioned the Office of the President over the alleged illegal lease of government properties in Masindi Municipality to private individuals, describing the move as a total disregard of government policy on the protection of public assets.
Speaking to journalists at Country Inn Hotel in Northern Cell, Central Division, Masindi Municipality, Kiiza expressed shock that the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) had leased government land and buildings housing key government departments for five years, with an option to extend the lease for 49 years.
According to UG Reports, documents show that the land on Plot 26, Masindi Port Road, accommodates several vital government offices, including those of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), District Internal Security Officer (DISO), Meteorological Department, Probation Office, Agriculture Office, District Veterinary Office, Environment and Forestry Office, the Regional Prisons Commander, Legal Aid (Law Development Centre), and the Veterans’ Pension Office.
Kiiza revealed that the Uganda Land Commission allocated the said land to Mustafa Serufambi and Abaine Malisito during meetings held on June 13th, 19th, and 20th, 2025, under reference numbers UCL/81/3852, UCL/81/4224, and UCL/81/4225, as indicated in a letter dated September 29th, 2025, addressed to the Masindi Municipality Town Clerk.
He described the allocation as illegal and criminal, calling on the President to investigate what he termed fraudulent transactions involving the sale of government land. The former minister, who also served as Member of Parliament for Masindi Municipality, questioned why the ULC would lease land that houses over ten government offices to private individuals.
Kiiza further disclosed that the official residence of the RDC, located on Plot 10, Kabalega Crescent, in Northern Cell, had also been sold to a private individual identified as Mohammed Mbabazi. He warned that such actions could soon force the President’s representative out of the official residence, compelling the government to incur extra costs renting offices and accommodation for its own officials.
When asked whether he had already petitioned the President, Kiiza confirmed that his petition was ready and would soon be delivered to the Office of the President, with a copy also sent to the Inspectorate of Government (IGG).
Explaining why he decided to speak out now, Kiiza said, “There is a time for everything, and one cannot be everywhere.” He added that his earlier intervention had helped save Masindi Public Primary School from being sold to a private investor by former municipal leaders.
Kiiza urged the President and relevant authorities to intervene swiftly to protect the remaining government assets in Masindi and ensure that public property is not lost to private ownership through illegal transactions.
In response, Darius Nandinda, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Masindi, acknowledged the matter, saying municipal authorities had not yet submitted the transfer minutes to the Uganda Land Commission. He noted that he had advised the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to write to the Commission requesting that priority be given to sitting tenants before leasing the land to private individuals.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the District Chairperson, also confirmed that the title for the RDC’s office and residence had expired, and private individuals had applied to acquire the land. He, however, vowed to fight to ensure the properties remain under government control, warning that losing them would hinder future plans to construct permanent RDC offices.
Byaruhanga added that district leaders had already engaged officials from the Uganda Land Commission, both regionally and nationally, to block the issuance of the land titles so that the property remains under district ownership. He emphasized that if the properties were released to private individuals, service delivery would suffer, as the government would be forced to rent office space and face challenges when funds are later allocated for constructing government buildings.
