Land probe: Lawyer arrested for forging land titles
Vincent Mugisha after he was handed over to police by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- The commission ended the public hearings in Kabarole which started on Monday. Some of the cases the commission investigated include the controversial leasing out of crater lakes and complaints against Mugisha among others.
- Justice Bamugemereire said that some of the cases that the commission was supposed to investigate in Fort Portal will be heard from Kampala. She mentioned cases such as evictions by Tooro queen mother Best Kemigisa and evictions of communities by TAMTECO tea factory among others.
The commission of inquiry into land matters has pinned a lawyer in Kyenjojo District for forging land titles and illegally evicting residents from their land.
The commission headed by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire recently heard that Vincent Mugisha, a lawyer by profession, is in possession of three forged land titles. The forged titles are for 1,500 hectares of land at Matiri Forest Reserve in Kihuura Sub County, Kyenjojo District.
Mr John Bosco Suza, the commission's assistant lead counsel told Mugisha that they received 27 complaints from residents accusing him of illegal evictions and harassment.
Mr Suza also said that attempts by National Forestry Authority (NFA) to evict Mugisha from the forest reserve were met with resistance from his agents who included armed police officers.
Justice Bamugemereire asked Mugisha to explain how he acquired the land and avail the commission with copies of the land titles. He (Mugisha) submitted copies he claims are genuine.
However, upon scrutiny of the titles by the investigators attached to the commission, it was discovered that the titles were forged.
Justice Bamugemereire ordered police officers to detain Mugisha and hand him to detectives for further investigations.
Mugisha was also accused of intimidating witnesses who had appeared before the commission to testify against his illegal acts.
The commission also heard that after encroaching on the forest reserve, he started selling timber illegally from Matiri central forest reserve.
The commission ended the public hearings in Kabarole which started on Monday. Some of the cases the commission investigated include the controversial leasing out of crater lakes and complaints against Mugisha among others.
Justice Bamugemereire said that some of the cases that the commission was supposed to investigate in Fort Portal will be heard from Kampala. She mentioned cases such as evictions by Tooro queen mother Best Kemigisa and evictions of communities by TAMTECO tea factory among others.
