City businessman named in UCU land fraud

PIC: Robert Waswa appearing before the land probe committee. Waswa alleges that he bought five arces of land at Ntawo belonging to UCU Holdings from Christopher Mwanje. (Credit: Denis Dibele)

LAND PROBE

KAMPALA - A city businessman has been cited in fraudulent land transaction in Uganda Christian University (UCU) land.

The land probe team on Tuesday established that Robert Waswa has been claiming part of UCU land illegally.

The public hearing is being conducted at the Archives and Records Centre in the city suburb of Kampala.

Waswa has been claiming five acres of the university land, saying he bought the land from Christopher Mwanje at sh50.

The five acres of land at Ntawo in Mukono is part of the 649.2 acres of land belonging to UCU. The land is being claimed by a number of people.

When tasked by the commission's lead counsel, Ebert Byenkya, the probe team established that Waswa did not have any proof to show ownership.

"Without any proof, this transaction is void," commissioner Fredrick Ruhindi said.

Waswa, who fought back tears as he testified before the commission said he bought the land in 2010. He asked the commission to call Mwanje to explain the disputes.

According of Uganda Christian University vice-chancellor Dr Rev. John Ssenyonyi, the land was given to Church of Uganda, as a gift by late Ham Mukasa in 1921.

Ssenyonyi said, in 1997 the Theological College became Uganda Christian University and it took over the college's assets and its liabilities under Uganda Christian University (UCU) Holdings.

Commission team

Justice 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 (High Court Judge) heads the secretariat.

Commission's 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 (ULC) in administering public land and relevant bodies in the reservation of wetlands, forests, road reserves and national parks, among other gazette spaces.