AG denies stealing Nakasero PS land
Mr William Byaruhanga
The Attorney General, Mr William Byaruhanga, has defended himself against accusations of stealing Nakasero Primary School land and planning to sell it back to government through his company called Pine Investment Limited.
Last month, Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebaggala accused Mr Byaruhanga in Parliament that he had grabbed the land.
Following the accusations, Mr Byaruhanga made a statement in Parliament on Friday denying the claims. He showed Daily Monitor the statement which he said he presented in Parliament.
“Hon. Ssebaggala claimed that lands comprised on Plot 5B Mackinnon Road and Plot 32 on Kyadondo Road, owned by Pine Investments Limited, a company in which I hold an interest, was part of Nakasero Primary School land and it was taken under unclear circumstances and they are selling it back to government,” Mr Byaruhanga stated.
“I am aware that investigations have indeed been carried out and a report has been issued. The report completely exonerates Pine Investments Limited, the report shows that the lands in question have never had anything to do with Nakasero Primary School,” he added.
The AG further said though Pine Investments participated in the bidding to sell land to government to build the AfriExim Bank headquarters, the company withdrew its bid.
He confirmed he is a co-director in Pine Investments which owns Plot 32 on Kyadondo Road and Plot 5B on Mackinnon Road together with Mr Charlie Lubega and Mr Henry Lubwama.
According to two search January 7 reports from the Ministry of Lands and sent to MMAKS Advocates, Pine Investments has a 99-year lease on Plot 32 on Kyadondo Road and a 49-year lease on Plot 5B on Mackinnon road. The two plots are 0.6390 hectares and 0.2690 hectares, respectively.
Lands ministry confirmation
Mr Byaruhanga last week presented documents showing that both Kampala Capital City Authority and Ministry of Lands confirmed the land does not belong to Nakasero Primary School.
“The attached cadastral maps indicate land that had been reserved for expansion of Nakasero Primary School then known as European Junior School. Clearly Plot 32 Kyadondo Road and Plot 5 Mackinnon Road are outside the contested area of Nakasero Primary school,” Lands minister Beti Kamya wrote to Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda.
