UNRA pays Shs5b for land under dispute

UNRA commission of inquiry lead counsel Andrew Kasirye (L) checks documents Ms Sarah Kulata Basangwa (R), the commissioner for land registration in the Lands ministry, brought before the UNRA commission in Kampala on Friday. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAKUMIRIZI

KAMPALA- The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) paid Shs5.2 billion in compensation for land which was still under dispute before court, witnesses told the commission of inquiry on Friday.

Witnesses testified that the roads agency paid the billions of shillings to Madhivani Group of Companies basing on a freehold title issued in 1925 which is being contested by the family of the late Muwanga Omuwesi who hold a mailo land title issued in 1913.

The said money was paid to access land at Nakigalala in Wakiso District for the ongoing construction of the Kampala–Entebbe Expressway at the interchange where the road connects to the spur (branch-off) that leads to Munyonyo.

The road project has been impeded by unresolved compensation claims by individuals who own titles on gazetted public land while other people appear on multiple registered titles.

The testimonies were made before the commission of inquiry into alleged mismanagement of UNRA on Friday. The commission is led by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.

The administrator of the estate of Muwanga Omuwesi told the commission that Madhivani Group occupied the family’s land on a 49-year lease which expired in 2009 but they instead forged a freehold title which prompted the court case.

Mr Benjamin Kalumba, the Nakawa Division mayor, who presented several documents to the commission, accused UNRA and Madhivani of conniving with the road contractor to grade the family’s graveyard containing 120 remains.

“When the road project started, we met with UNRA and gave in our documents. They instead paid Madhivani and I wrote letters asking UNRA to consider relocation of our graveyard for a decent burial. They agreed but to our surprise they mobilised the contractor to destroy the graves,” said Mr Kalumba. He was flanked by lawyer Severino Twinobusingye.

“Our search at Entebbe Survey and Mapping Department shows that our title is still intact but there is no documentation at Wakiso land office and not even in the land registry at Kampala, except in the office of the commissioner, Ms Sarah Kulata, where the Madhvani file is kept under lock and key,” Mr Kalumba said.

However, the Madhivani Group of Companies’ corporate and legal affairs director, Mr KP Eswar, insisted the company owns the land with a genuine title.

“I am not aware of the graveyards as claimed because the issue came much later. Our policy is to give transport to the bereaved employee and I am not aware of migrant workers buried there,” said Mr Eswar.

He declined to answer many questions by the Commission Secretary, Mr Daniel Rutiba, saying it would be sub judice to the pending case in court.
Appearing before the commission, Ms Kulata failed to explain the contradicting letters and documents in regard to ownership of the disputed land.

She instead said the title in names of Muwanga Omuwesi was terminated in 1931 but she was not certain on how the same land changed from Mailo to freehold.