Uganda MPs Recover Mukono Land Files: Police Probe Fraud

• Uganda MPs recovered hundreds of land files reportedly hidden in shops and car trunks near the Mukono Zonal Land Office during a fraud inquiry.
• The Parliamentary Committee on Lands investigated allegations of irregularities involving land titles in wetlands, central forest reserves, Mabira Forest, and Njeru Stock Farm.
• Senior Staff Surveyor Steven Ndegeya was questioned regarding these irregularities and was allegedly identified by other staff as having directed the external storage of files.
• Administrative lapses were highlighted, including security key delegation to a gate guard and the MZO Principal Assistant Secretary citing staff shortages and forged title complaints.
• Hundreds of allegedly forged land titles were discovered within the MZO, yet no related police cases had been opened, while the public reported decades-long waits for title resolution.

This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential for widespread fraud within the Mukono land registry, necessitating extreme caution and enhanced due diligence for any land transactions or title verifications in the region.

The Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development has initiated a police investigation following the discovery of numerous land files reportedly stashed in commercial premises and car trunks adjacent to the Mukono Zonal Land Office (MZO). This significant development occurred as the committee, chaired by Edison Rugumayo, conducted an inspection of the office as part of a broader Uganda land fraud inquiry. The parliamentary oversight aimed to investigate allegations of widespread land fraud, significant delays in processing land titles, and various other administrative irregularities impacting property transactions within Mukono District.

During their visit, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Lands Uganda toured different departments within the MZO, engaging staff members about their operational procedures, particularly concerning the management and storage of critical land records. This initial phase of the Mukono Zonal Land Office investigation immediately raised red flags, setting the stage for the subsequent recovery of the concealed documents, which underscores the depth of the issues being probed. The recovery of these files by Uganda MPs near the Mukono land office signals a critical turning point in the ongoing scrutiny of land administration in the region.

Specific concerns emerged during the committee's interaction with Senior Staff Surveyor Steven Ndegeya. Legislators questioned alleged irregularities tied to land titles reportedly issued for properties located within protected wetlands and central forest reserves. The committee also pressed officials regarding more than 200 land titles said to have been created within the Mabira Forest, demanding a comprehensive list of all individuals associated with these particular titles, indicating potential Mabira Forest land titles fraud.

Further alarming discoveries included reports of over 50 land titles allegedly established on the government-owned Njeru Stock Farm, highlighting potential Njeru Stock Farm land irregularities. Chairperson Rugumayo specifically instructed Ndegeya to furnish a complete transaction trail, original title documents, relevant geographical maps, and detailed information on all individuals holding titles on this land. Ndegeya, however, requested additional time, citing the necessity to consult with registrars before compiling an organized report. He informed the committee that the system lacked a certificate of title for Njeru Stock Farm belonging to the Uganda Land Commission, though it did contain records of individual Mailo landowners whose interests dated back many years, suggesting some acquisitions might have been legal.

Following these initial findings, the committee convened with MZO officials to delve into the root causes of the complaints and alleged irregularities. Three specific staff members—Dan Kyalo, Hannifah Nantongo, and Susan Aceru—were tasked with retrieving files that were reportedly being removed from the MZO premises. Despite their denials of having moved any files, the committee, accompanied by police officers, proceeded to recover hundreds of titles. These documents were found stashed in shops located directly across the road from the land office, with additional files discovered in vehicle boots.

When questioned about the instructions to store these files externally, the officials reportedly implicated their supervisor, Steven Ndegeya, as the source of the directive. The Parliamentary Committee on Lands Uganda also interrogated the security personnel deployed by the Ministry of Lands in Kampala regarding how these sensitive files and titles managed to leave the office. It was revealed that Emma Otim, the head of security, had delegated the responsibility for office keys to a private security guard, whose routine duties included opening and closing the office. The committee expressed strong reservations about why a guard, whose primary role was reportedly gate manning, had been entrusted with such critical access. Doreen Tumushabe, the Principal Assistant Secretary at the MZO, disclaimed responsibility for the alleged actions of individual employees but committed to enhancing supervisory oversight. She also cited challenges such as staff shortages, a lack of operational vehicles, and a high volume of complaints concerning allegedly forged land titles as factors affecting the office's efficiency.

The oversight visit by the Parliamentary Committee on Lands Uganda also brought to light hundreds of allegedly forged land titles directly within the Mukono Zonal Land Office itself. Despite this significant discovery, officials confirmed to the committee that no related criminal cases had been initiated at the Mukono Police Station, raising further questions about accountability and enforcement within the Uganda land fraud inquiry. This situation underscores a critical gap in addressing fraudulent activities that directly impact property rights and investment security.

The committee further heard numerous complaints from members of the public, many of whom reported waiting for years, and in some cases decades, to obtain their land titles or to have land disputes resolved. Maria Nakitende, a 75-year-old woman, shared her personal ordeal of waiting for decades for authorities to address her title-related matter. This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential for widespread fraud within the Mukono land registry, necessitating extreme caution and enhanced due diligence for any land transactions or title verifications in the region. Lawyers should advise clients on the increased risks of forged titles and administrative irregularities, potentially impacting property rights and investment security.

This development signals heightened scrutiny and potential for widespread fraud within the Mukono land registry, necessitating extreme caution and enhanced due diligence for any land transactions or title verifications in the region. Lawyers should advise clients on the increased risks of forged titles and administrative irregularities, potentially impacting property rights and investment security.

Source: Reporting based on parliamentary oversight.