Judiciary slams land registry over fake titles 

 

 

 

The observation was made by a delegation of Judges of the High Court, Andrew Bashaija and Wilson Kwesiga, who presented a Judiciary memorandum to the land probe commission.

 

"Courts are confronted by a problem of contradicting titles. The land registry is an epicentre of forgery. It should be probed.  It is like the proverbial dracula being the custodian of a blood bank," Bashaija said.

 

The probe public proceedings are held at the National Archives and Records Centre located on Lourdel Road in the upscale city suburb of Nakasero.

 

Justice Catherine Bamugemereire is the commission chairperson.    

 

The commissioners are Fredrick Ruhindi, Mary Oduka Ochan Robert Ssebunnya, Joyce Gunze Habaasa, Dr Rose Nakayi and George Bagonza Tinkamanyire.

 

Ebert Byenkya is lead counsel, John Bosco Suuza is assistant lead counsel, while Judiciary deputy registrar for planning and development, Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya, heads the secretariat.

 

Kwesiga said: "Fraud is being expertly designed and executed by land registry officials. The idea of bonafide purchaser must be revisited. The integrity of registration of titles needs to be looked at."

 

The Judiciary's remarks were prompted by Habaasa who sought the Judges' opinion on a suggestion by a lands official that land tribunals should be supervised by the lands ministry.

 

 

The probe team is tasked with inquiring into efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management.

 

It is also expected to ascertain the effectiveness of the Uganda Land Commission in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves, and national parks, among other gazetted spaces.