Pre-trial set for mapping commissioner accused in Gomba land saga
The prosecution alleges that the accused conducted a boundary opening and unlawfully took possession of more than 600 acres of the land
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The pre-trial of the Commissioner for Mapping and Surveys, Jasper Kakooza, and nine others accused of double titling and the fraudulent procurement of land certificates in Gomba district is scheduled for today, Tuesday.
According to the prosecution, Kakooza and his co-accused allegedly conspired to create an overlapping land title on approximately 1,454 acres belonging to the Madhvani Group in Gomba district.
The accused are expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nakasero, presided over by David Makumbi.
The prosecution further alleges that the accused conducted a boundary opening and unlawfully took possession of more than 600 acres of the land. In the process, they are said to have destroyed about 540 acres of natural forest.
The accused persons include Nicodemus Sitenda, the Mpogo district planner; Hakim Bassajjangabo, the Gomba district senior assistant secretary; and Andrew Ssiwuliliza, the LC1 chairman of Mpogo village.
Others charged are Gladys Nakanwangi, the Gomba district labour officer; Hajji Badru Ismail Kayongo, the former Gomba District Land Board chairperson; businessman Allan Nuwahereza; George Mudey, a security guard at Pyramid Group; Abdul Senoga, a casual labourer; and David Nabimanya, a security guard supervisor.
A pre-trial hearing is a meeting between the judge, the prosecution and the defence lawyers before the trial.
It is designed to resolve preliminary issues, narrow the scope of the case or negotiate plea deals or settlements. It helps to expedite the trial process by addressing evidentiary matters, witness lists and scheduling, rather than determining guilt or innocence.