Vet doctor grilled over UCU land scam

PIC: Robert Ssonko after appearing before the land probe committee on Wednesday. (Credit: Denis Dibele)

LAND | PROBE

KAMPALA - A retired veterinary doctor has been grilled over extorting money from residents of Mukono, over Uganda Christian University (UCU) land.

The land probe team yesterday heard that Robert Sonko allegedly extorted money from some residents claiming it was grant rent for the university.

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

During the hearing, the land probe team heard that Sonko, instead of caretaking the land, turned himself into an extortionist. It is alleged that Sonko started extorting money from different residents on pretext that the money was payable to UCU as a ground rent.

"You have been conspiring with people who have no rights and hatched a money-making scheme over this land," lead counsel Ebert Byenkya told Sonko.

According to the evidence the commission obtained, Sonko would get money from residents and would not issue receipts.

The land in dispute is at Ntawo in Mukono district. It measures about 649.2 acres. The land is being claimed by a number of people.

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 the Judiciary Deputy Registrar of Planning and Development, Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya (High Court Judge), heads the secretariat.

Commission mandate

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

It is also tasked with inquiring 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.