The Inspectorate of Government last week ordered for the interdiction of Commissioner for Land Registration at the Lands Ministry, Hajji Baker Mugaino in what has largely been seen as purging from powerful rivals in the mi history amidst a dust rising anti fraud clean up clearance at the institution.
In the interdiction notice seen by this publication, Inspector Generwl of Government, Beti Olive Namisango Kamya directed Lands Permanent Secretary Okalanyi to expeditiously oversee the implementation of the directive to gave way to a probe against Mugaino over a wide range of accusations including corruption, illegal cancellation of titles and double titling.
Mugaino, who is currently out of office had been tipped by many, including President Museveni to overhaul the rot at the ministry owing to his uncompromisingly clean record. Early this year, Mugaino was named a full Commissioner in charge of Land Registration after holding the portfolio for some time in acting capacity.
The most mindblowing of the saga is that the interdiction comes in the wake of a storm rising exercise that saw over a thousand land titles counceled over a range of irregularities, including but not limited to double titling. A Cleanup exercise targeting double titled land owners that kicked off in Mukono in March this year probed over 2000 land titles and culminated in the cancelation of up to 1,500 titles amid overreaching protests from the affected people and their facilitators at the ministry.
Information we have gathered indicates that the exercise was set to extend to Bukalasa Zonal area in Luwero and Wakiso where over 3000 illegally acquired land titles are the subject of focus.
Contained among the accusations against Mugaino is irregularities in the issuance of titles. Ironically, the Commissioner in his capacity doesn’t issue titles but rather gets involved only when there are queries on the legality of the title registered that he comes in to investigate and decide to overturn or maintain the same. Its, therefore, highly suspicious that the official is tasked to take the blame for other officials like surveyors and land registrars.
The Buganda Kingdom at Kaazi Land Scandal
In 2023, Baker Mugaino courageously stepped forward to sort the wrangle between land grabbers and Buganda Kingdom land following a court ruling in favor of the later. Doing what he deemed was the right thing, Mugaino ordered for the revocation of up to 500 titles. This left many of the victims with an egg on their faces and a score with this ever towering iron willed Commissioner at the ministry.
The Presidential Directive That Opened a Can of Worms For Mugaino
The underfire Commissioner, we have since learned, had come up with a proposal for enhanced technological approach to land management in what has since been termed as the ” blockchain technology. ” Under the proposed intervention, the less effective Land Information System would be replaced for improved efficiency and enhanced user experience in a timely manner. This would also cut costs on the side of the government and make illegalities and irregularities easily detectable.
The project, eventhough highly recommended by President Museveni, has faced stiff opposition from top bosses at the ministry many of whom fear it would plug most gaps through which they :wet their beaks.”
When the president learned of the resistance, he scrabbled a directive to the minister of Lands, Judith Nalule Nabakooba and copied in Mugaino on fast tracking the implementation of the proposed technology to enhance efficiency at the ministry. This directive , however, just enraged Mugaino’s opposition who grew more determined to punish him than ever before.
In our next episode, we shall delve into the war that Mugaino overcame to finally become a Commissioner amid intense sabotage by his bosses who pushed for someone else.
