Government surveyor in trouble over wetland plots

KAMPALA- A senior government surveyor has been handed over to police to record a fresh statement in connection with numerous surveys that led to issuance of land titles in a wetland and forest reserve in Kampala and Wakiso districts.

Mr George Waseni, the senior staff surveyor from the Works ministry, was yesterday handed over to police after denying his own previous statement in which he admitted that his firm, Integrated Surveys and Mapping Consults, undertook instructions to survey Nambigirwa wetland and Mugomba forest in Wakiso and Luzira wetlands in Nakawa Division, Kampala.

It is alleged that between 2012 and 2013, a surveyor, Mr Jim Nganda, from M/s Integrated Surveys and Mapping Consults received instructions to survey land measuring 457 hectares in Kisubi off Entebbe Road on behalf of one Alex Lwanga.

Evidence presented to the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire–led land inquiry shows that the land was titled and registered in the names of M/s Logic Real Estates and Developers owned by businessman Ephraim Ntaganda.

Appearing before the land inquiry, Mr Waseni, also the managing director of M/s Integrated Surveys and Mapping Consults, denied ever approving the surveys, saying the surveyor (Nganda), who was an intern, took advantage of the loopholes in the company to commit the irregularities.

“According to the information I have from the company documents, the instruction to survey was issued by the former acting assistant commissioner surveys and mapping, Jasper Kakooza, for Logic Real Estates and Developers in Kisubi but this job never came back to my office for approval. I do not think the file has my stamp and signature,” said Mr Wesane.

He added: “If the file came to me, I would have invalidated it because the size of the land was abnormal and due to the nature of the land, I would have asked for more information and clearance from relevant authorities.”

Mr Wesani, who apologised for the irregularities that led to issuance of titles, asked the land probe to recommend for the cancellation of the titles, saying the processes and procedures for the survey were never followed as required by law.

He was also quizzed over survey of land at Old Portbell in Luzira, surveys in Ziru forest in Wakiso District and sub divisions of Plot 491 that was registered in the names of M/s Logic Real Estates and Developers.

Mr Wesani was questioned in regard to the ongoing investigations into the titling of government protected areas, which were earmarked for the construction of electricity power lines for Mutundwe-Entebbe and Luzira- Namanve.
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