Museveni’s brother in land row
What you need to know:
The IGG’s report adds that the land board disregarded a government valuer’s report which put the value of the land at Shs189m, way above the Shs94m at which it was sold to the two.
Six families in Jinja have jointly petitioned President Museveni to intervene in a dispute involving his younger brother, Michael Nuwagira alias Toyota.
The families accuse Mr Nuwagira of threatening to evict them from the land they are occupying.
“Two weeks ago, Nuwagira Michael (Toyota)... threatened us, saying he had given us only two weeks to vacate the premises. Your Excellency, we the undersigned are seeking your intervention in this matter,” reads part of the March 11 petition.
The petitioners include Moses Bamuwamye, Ms Margaret Kulaba, Ms Maria Kasasa, Ms Enid Nabukwasi, Ms Joyce Nandego and one Mr Ssenkayi.
The petition was copied to Speaker of Parliament, State Minister for Lands, the Mayor, RDC and Chairman of the Jinja District Land Board.
The petition
“Last year, the IGG nullified the purchase of the same estate by Nuwagira Michael Toyota, your brother, because it wasn’t done in accordance with the Land Act, which states that tenants will be accorded the first priority,” they wrote.
Mr Bamuwamye said they sought Mr Museveni’s intervention because of failure by local officials to implement the recommendations of the IGG’s June 2012 report.
The report accused the Jinja District Land Board of allocating the land despite objections by Jinja Municipal Council.
The land was reportedly allocated to Mr Nuwagira and Mr Kassim Kimwero on May 15 2009.
The IGG’s report adds that the land board disregarded a government valuer’s report which put the value of the land at Shs189m, way above the Shs94m at which it was sold to the two.
The report recommended that the lease offer be rescinded and the money spent by the two refunded.
‘Reluctance’ by Jinja leaders
Mr Bamuwamye said they approached the RDC, Mr Richard Gulume, but nothing was done about the matter.
“They are most probably reluctant to handle the matter because it involves Museveni’s [brother],” he said.
However, Mr Gulume said the complainants had failed to give him the relevant documents.
“How do I proceed on this when the paper work is missing? No authority can handle this matter without the relevant documents,” he said.
Jinja Town Clerk David Kyasanku acknowledged that the IGG’s recommendations had not been implemented, but denied failure to take action because of fear.
“I know we are dealing with people connected to State House, but it is not fair for anyone to accuse us of having feared to act. Those recommendations have financial implications which the council might not be in a position to implement right now,” he said.
