Land probe detains manager over Mubende land

PIC: Lake Wamala Farm manager Mohammad Ntanda appearing before the land probe committee. Ntanda was testifying on the wrangles in Bukoba village in Mubende district involving residents and security guards acting on behalf of Abid Alam. (Credit: Denis Dibele)

KAMPALA - The manager of Lake Wamala Farm in Mubende district has been detained by the investigators attached to the land probe team.

The commission of inquiry into land chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire directed that Mohammed Ntanda be detained to record an additional statement regarding land grabbling and eviction in Mubende.

City businessman Abid Alam, who is the proprietor of Lake Wamala Farm and Ntanda have been accused of torturing residents and evicting them from their land measuring 12 square miles.

Justice Catherine Bamugemereire directed that Ntanda be detained to record additional statement on premise that he has been concealing information to the commission.

"We think there is something you have not told the commission, please go with my investigators to record another statement," Bamugemereire said.

Commission team

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 of planning and development Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya heads the secretariat.

Commission mandate

The commission's mandate is to probe efficiency of the laws, policies and processes of land registration, acquisition, administration and management.

It is also tasked with inquiring into 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.