Lukwago names team to probe Usafi land wrangles

Kampala- Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has appointed a six-member committee comprised of city councillors to investigate the alleged grabbing of part of Usafi Market land by businessman John Bosco Muwonge.

The team, which is expected to present its findings to council in three weeks, will be chaired by Kampala deputy Lord Mayor Sarah Kanyike.

Other members are; Moses Katabu (Kampala Central), Zamin Masumbe (Kawempe South), Murshid Buwembo (Pwds), Abubaker Kawaalya (Rubaga) and Julius Damulira (Architects’ representative).
The probe was triggered by the Usafi vendors’ objections in an April 19 petition to the Lord Mayor, protesting the manner in which they were evicted from part of the market by KCCA law enforcers.

Usafi Market, which sits on 6.18 acres in Katwe-Mengo, was bought by government through KCCA from Umar Ssekamate, the proprietor of Safinet (U) Ltd at a staggering Shs39b in 2014 to accommodate street vendors.

However, Mr Muwonge claims that KCCA encroached on his land by 18 decimals and erected a makeshift shed. Mr Muwonge’s land is adjacent to Usafi Market.

Two weeks ago, KCCA law enforces evicted vendors from the contested 18 decimals to allow the owner develop it.
This has raised storm among both vendors and city leaders, arguing that the manner in which KCCA technocrats rushed to give away the land to Mr Muwonge without first surveying the whole market land to ascertain his claims, is suspicious.

“…was there a well guided and audited KCCA surveyor’s report which showed the actual size and boundaries of Usafi Market before procurement? Did the same KCCA surveyor team raise any query concerning the two different land tenures of Usafi Market?” reads part of the vendors’ petition.

However, KCCA executive director Jennifer Musisi wrote to the Lord Mayor on May 7, dismissing the vendors’ claims.
Ms Musisi noted that a recent survey, which was conducted on the market by KCCA technical officials indicated that Mr Muwonge’s land had been encroached on by 18 decimals when they were erecting the makeshift market structure.

“…the allegations that John Bosco Muwonge grabbed KCCA land at Usafi Market have no merit or legal basis,” she wrote.
Mr Lukwago wondered why the exercise was carried out without involving the entire leadership of the authority.

He alleges that there is collusion between Mr Muwonge and some KCCA technocrats to grab the land which was bought using tax payers’ money.

When Kampala Minister Beti Kamya visited the market last week, she directed KCCA to make a fresh survey of the entire market to ascertain the exact land on which the market sits.

Other claimants
Daily Monitor has further learnt that there are other people claiming ownership of Usafi land.
For instance, Faridah Nantale and Ahamada Sserwadda have since petitioned the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire committee, challenging the sale of Usafi land.

The duo say they were the rightful administrators of the property, which they claim, belonged to the late Mr Muhammad Mukoloboza.

They argue that they warned KCCA against purchasing the land in vain.
Last month, members of the KCCA’s Public Accounts Committee (Pac) grilled Ms Musisi to explain the manner in which public land is being grabbed in the city.

Concerns
The committee’s concern was hinged on the fact that although KCCA is mandated to oversee public property in the city, they have allegedly failed apprehend land grabbers that have claimed public land.

“Some of the documents we have reviewed show that some of the public land in the city has many encumbrances because it’s being claimed by different parties. Others have gone ahead to controversially develop public land yet this same land is supposed to be protected by KCCA,” Mr Bob Kabaziguruka, the city administrator said.

He added that Ms Musisi must ensure that all public property in the city must be well documented to avoid losses.
The committee was referring to Plot 17 in Kiswa, Nakawa Division which was controversially given to Kashari-Buhweju Farmers Ltd against the Inspector General of Government’s (IGG) advice to redevelop it into a Children’s Park. The land measures 0.245 hectares.

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