Unra bought departed Asians land at Shs11b, says Cosase
UNRA’s executive director Allen Kagina
The parliamentary sub- committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) has launched investigations into circumstances under which the Uganda National Roads Authority (Unra) acquired 120 acres of land in Kajjansi, Entebbe Municipality, which is being claimed by the Custodian Board as part of the property belonging to departed Asians.
The Cosase sub-committee chairperson, Mr Ibrahim Kasozi (Makindye East), while presiding over the subcommittee meeting, investigating the fraudulent acquisition of departed Asians’ property, accused the Wakiso District land board of issuing land titles to what he called unscrupulous people, who in turn sold it to Unra at a cost of Shs11b.
“The land titles were handed to wrong people by the Wakiso district Land Board, leading to a loss of Shs11b taxpayers’ money. We are going to work hand in hand with the government to reclaim our money from these unscrupulous people,” Mr Kasozi said.
However, he did not disclose the identities of the people who sold the land to Unra.
The committee was meeting officials from Wakiso land board who were tasked to explain the status of the departed Asian properties within their jurisdiction.
Mr Gilbert Kasozi, the Senior Management Land Officer of Wakiso District, in his defence, explained that board issued titles to some people way back in 1996, who approached them with a certificate of re-possession.
The Unra spokesperson, Mr Mark Ssali, said he is yet to get more facts about the land since it was bought before the current management took over office.
Mr Allan Ssempebwa, the manager media relations, said they are ready to work with Cosase to reclaim the money if it is confirmed that the land belongs to the custodian board.
In the same committee, Mr Kasozi also summoned officials from Entebbe Municipal Council to appear before the committee next week, to answer how they acquired land they are currently occupying.
Kasozi notified the committee that the land of 0.25 acres plot on Entebbe Road is being occupied by Entebbe Municipality Council and they also do not know how they occupied it.
“I have summoned the officials to come and explain how they acquire that land. It belongs to the custodian board so they should not be occupying it,” Mr Kasozi said.
