Four Mbarara district land titles go missing

Four land titles are missing from the Lands inventory at Mbarara district headquarters, the auditor’s report has revealed.

These missing titles comprise Kamukuzi land measuring 10 hectares, Unicef land, Kakyeka Stadium land, and Bwizibwera land measuring 110 acres.  

David Muhwezi, the chief administrative officer (CAO) of Mbarara district, informed the district public accounts committee on Thursday that upon reporting to Mbarara, he was provided with a parcel of photocopied land titles. However, upon verification, it was discovered that seven original land titles were missing.  

He expressed further concern regarding the absence of the land title for the Bwizibwera land, situated in Bwizibwera–Rutooma town council, where the district plans to construct its headquarters. This land has been encroached on by the former district chairperson, Fred Ibabaza Kamugira, who acquired a title for an acre of land within it.  

Muhwezi highlighted the encroachment on the land where the current district headquarters in Kamukuzi is situated, stating that 20 plots out of the original 37 were illegally grabbed and removed from the land title in the system. This situation has made it challenging to obtain a special land title for Kamukuzi.

Regarding accountability, Muhwezi attributed the responsibility for the missing land titles to former chief administrative officer Edward Kasagara. However, Kasagara has committed to facilitating their recovery and has already paid out Shs 11 million for this purpose.   

Herbert Kamugisha, chairperson of the district public accounts committee, directed the CAO to write to the anti-corruption unit and the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to request an investigation into the matter. 

The committee further recommended acquiring the original land titles and summoning Fred Kamugira to explain how he acquired land within government property. Kamugira should also face prosecution for his actions.