Ssebaana cited in land sale probe
Nov 08, 2005
THE commission investigating Kampala City Council (KCC) land sale has ordered the works committee chairman to produce documents for questionable transactions on prime plots of land including one owned by mayor Ssebaana Kizito.
By Steven Candia and Jude Etyang
THE commission investigating Kampala City Council (KCC) land sale has ordered the works committee chairman to produce documents for questionable transactions on prime plots of land including one owned by mayor Ssebaana Kizito.
The commission, headed by Prof. James Katorobo, wants the committee’s minutes for a meeting during which it approved the conversion of Mengo-Kisingiri access road to enable Ssebaana construct a double-storey building.
The commission wants documentation on the creation of a service lane between Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) and Sure House, another property owned by Ssebaana.
Works committee chief Edward Kibirige was the first witness to appear before the probe sitting at Mosa Courts Apartments.
Senior KCC officials, town clerk James Sseggane, former city engineer Abraham Byandaala and chief planner Charles Kyamanywa who had been summoned, did not show up.
Commission counsel Charles Odere read a list of 30 land transactions being investigated. He told Muwanga that the commission wants the committee’s minutes and relevant documents for each case, to support “your case that you made decisions over board.â€
The commission is investigating illegal sale, leasing and purchase of land by KCC. Other prominent cases include the awarding of a contract for the re-development of Nakasero market to Sheila Investments, owned by Hassan Bassajabalaba.
Others are the land between Kyadondo Rugby Club and the railway line, the sale of Old Car Park plots, the lease/sale of traffic Islands between Ben Kiwanuka Street and Arua park, the sale of a playground at Lugogo, near Uganda Manufacturers’ Association to Shimuk investments and the development of the Centenary Park on Jinja road.
The commission gave Muwanga up to next week to furnish it with the documents and warned that his defence of being “a politician and not a technocrat†would not be entertained.
“Don’t over play that excuse,†Katorobo warned to which Muwanga said, “Mr. Chairman, I will try as much as possible to avail the documents.â€
Yesterday the commission was compelled to issue fresh summons for Kyamanywa following his unexplained failure to appear and warned of tough action should its summons be snubbed.
“We may even issue a warrant of arrest or refer the matter to the director of public prosecution for prosecution,†Odere warned.
“We are having difficulties in getting people today. Some have given reasons for not attending,†Katorobo said, adding that they would not be deterred.
Sseggane could not turn up as he was reportedly engaged with the Electoral Commission, while Byandaala, who resigned recently, was represented by Stephen Kinyera.
Byandaala plans to contest for the Katikamu North parliamentary seat.
“Wherever he (Byandaala) is, the commission insists that he has to testify,†Katorobo said.
Kinyera’s claim that most of the issues contained in the summons did not fall under his department but the City Planner’s fell on deaf ears as commission members pointed out that most of the issues fell within the ambit of his department.
The commission said Kinyera was now a key witness.
THE commission investigating Kampala City Council (KCC) land sale has ordered the works committee chairman to produce documents for questionable transactions on prime plots of land including one owned by mayor Ssebaana Kizito.
The commission, headed by Prof. James Katorobo, wants the committee’s minutes for a meeting during which it approved the conversion of Mengo-Kisingiri access road to enable Ssebaana construct a double-storey building.
The commission wants documentation on the creation of a service lane between Kampala Pentecostal Church (KPC) and Sure House, another property owned by Ssebaana.
Works committee chief Edward Kibirige was the first witness to appear before the probe sitting at Mosa Courts Apartments.
Senior KCC officials, town clerk James Sseggane, former city engineer Abraham Byandaala and chief planner Charles Kyamanywa who had been summoned, did not show up.
Commission counsel Charles Odere read a list of 30 land transactions being investigated. He told Muwanga that the commission wants the committee’s minutes and relevant documents for each case, to support “your case that you made decisions over board.â€
The commission is investigating illegal sale, leasing and purchase of land by KCC. Other prominent cases include the awarding of a contract for the re-development of Nakasero market to Sheila Investments, owned by Hassan Bassajabalaba.
Others are the land between Kyadondo Rugby Club and the railway line, the sale of Old Car Park plots, the lease/sale of traffic Islands between Ben Kiwanuka Street and Arua park, the sale of a playground at Lugogo, near Uganda Manufacturers’ Association to Shimuk investments and the development of the Centenary Park on Jinja road.
The commission gave Muwanga up to next week to furnish it with the documents and warned that his defence of being “a politician and not a technocrat†would not be entertained.
“Don’t over play that excuse,†Katorobo warned to which Muwanga said, “Mr. Chairman, I will try as much as possible to avail the documents.â€
Yesterday the commission was compelled to issue fresh summons for Kyamanywa following his unexplained failure to appear and warned of tough action should its summons be snubbed.
“We may even issue a warrant of arrest or refer the matter to the director of public prosecution for prosecution,†Odere warned.
“We are having difficulties in getting people today. Some have given reasons for not attending,†Katorobo said, adding that they would not be deterred.
Sseggane could not turn up as he was reportedly engaged with the Electoral Commission, while Byandaala, who resigned recently, was represented by Stephen Kinyera.
Byandaala plans to contest for the Katikamu North parliamentary seat.
“Wherever he (Byandaala) is, the commission insists that he has to testify,†Katorobo said.
Kinyera’s claim that most of the issues contained in the summons did not fall under his department but the City Planner’s fell on deaf ears as commission members pointed out that most of the issues fell within the ambit of his department.
The commission said Kinyera was now a key witness.