Buganda distances itself from Nabagereka land saga

By Paul Kiwuuwa      

THE Buganda Land Board (BLB) has distanced itself from the giveaway of Nabagereka Primary School land, saying it did not have a hand in leasing the land to a private developer, identified as Boost Investment Limited (BIL).

BLB is an institution of Buganda Kingdom in charge of managing, and administering all land belonging to Buganda Kingdom.

The chairman Buganda Land Board Eng. Martin Kasekende told the Parliamentary Select Committee investigating the grabbing of public land in the city that "Uganda Land Commission (ULC) leased the land to a private developer in December, 2006, but not as reported by some media outlets with suggested that the Buganda Land Board sold the land."

The land in contention is located on 1049, Block 12, measuring 4.7 acres forming part of Plot 292, in Mengo Kisenyi, Kampala. 

In January court bailiffs demolished the school which housed 1443 pupils, claiming the land on which it sits, had been leased to Boost Investment.

The school established in 1966, was put under the Universal Primary Education Scheme and was managed by Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA).

Kasekende explained that Nabagereka Primary School was built by central government in 1966, and vested in Uganda Land Commission, with other properties of Buganda Kingdom, under the 1967 Uganda constitution.

Kasekende and the board chief executive officer Kiwalabye Male appeared before the committee to explain the role of Buganda Land Board played in the giveaway.

The committee chairperson Robert Migadde Ndugwa, tasked the duo to explain how land in contention was sold to the private investor.

Kiwalabye said "in 2006, the land was under the management of ULC, exercised its power, as the controlling authority and leased the land to a private developer for 99 years from February 1st 2007”. 

“Following the lease, a land title was created and issued in the names of Boost Investments Limited" he added.

"This lease covered plots on Block 12 including plot 1049 measuring 4.7 acres that covered Nabagereka School Land. Other plots leased include on block 12 are 1580, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288 and 289."

Kiwalabye explained when government returned the Buganda kingdom properties, Boost Investment Limited applied to the board for regularization of the lease of the land in contention.

"The Nabagereka land was returned to Buganda kingdom when it was already encumbered by way of a lease of 99 years granted by ULC, to BIL."

He added, “A conditional deed of surrender was executed between the Buganda kingdom and BIL, who surrendered lease on the Nabagereka land, created by ULC”. 

"BLB regularized the lease by granting the balance of 93 years to boost investment limited, after considering the 6 years that had elapsed out of the 99 years granted by ULC" Kiwalabye added.

"Education is equally important we cannot allow private investments to take over schools in the city, much as we want economic development," the Iganga woman MP Olivia Kabaale said.

Recently The Minister of Education and Sports, Jessica Alupo, told MPs on the same committee that that her ministry has sought for guidance from the Attorney General, who has advised that government can repossess the school.

"The private developer acquired the property unlawfully. He had no legal back up to demolish the school" Alupo said.

"When government finalizes repossession of Nabagereka Primary School, government will raise funds to procure the land from Buganda Land Board (owners of the land) to acquire the legal ownership of the land."