IGG orders sacking of Jinja officials

The Inspector General of Government has ordered the interdiction of district land officials in Jinja and the former Jinja Town Clerk who is serving in Arua in the same position, over their alleged sale of public land.

“The Inspectorate of Government has received complaints and is conducting investigations into the allegations of mismanagement and abuse of office by David Bashakara, the former Town Clerk Jinja Municipal Council and other staff of Jinja District Land Board,” the IGG, Raphael Baku said in a letter dated April 28, 2010.

More implicated
The group is accused of illegally selling property that was registered under the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board. “This is to direct that in order to conclude the investigations without interference from the implicated officials and in accordance with the Constitution and the Inspectorate of Government Act 2002, that you should with immediate effect interdict Mr David Bashakara from performing the functions of that office,” the letter reads.

The letter which is copied to Jinja’s Chief Administrative Officer Ben Otim, directs him to take similar action against the Senior District Lands Officer, Ms Asha Nahabo, the Secretary District Land Board, Ms Lydia Mwembe and the Municipal Surveyor, Mr Godfrey Kitimbo.

The IGG’s representative in Jinja, Mr Dominic Baru, said the directives should take immediate effect. The IGG said investigations into the allegations had deduced that the officials were involved in the alleged illegal acquisition and disposal of land in Jinja Municipal Council.

He said investigations further show that even after his transfer to Arua, Mr Bashakara continued to frequent Jinja Land Office reportedly to perpetrate the illegal acts complained about. Mr Bashakara was in September last year sent on forced leave to pave way for a probe into allegations of selling public property in Jinja.

He handed over office to his deputy, Mr Jofram Waidhuba on September 14.
It is, however, not clear how he was posted to Arua.
The IGG’s letter also directs Jinja District Chairman Hannington Basakana to halt the reappointment of members of the district land board.