Ex-village boss disowns contentious Nwoya land

LAND

KAMPALA - A former village boss in Nwoya has disowned authenticity of paperwork in the controversial ownership of 6,400 acres, a portion of which is linked to reserve force commander Maj Gen Charles Otema-Awany.

Constantine Ocaya, who served as Tangi village LCI chairperson from 2000 to last year, said he was not part of the entire transaction trail involving Maj Gen Otema and others.

On Wednesday, the boss who testified at the land probe commission public hearing in Kampala suggested he was deliberately sidelined.

The commission is investigating how Otema-Awany and several others acquired land claimed by the estate of first black Police boss (1964-1971) Erinayo Oryema.

Oryema's granddaughter Nancy Oryema petitioned the commission. She accuses her aunt; the eldest of the Oryema offspring Gertrude Oryema, of selling land without the consent of other beneficiaries.

Other claimants of the land include commercial farmer Beatrice Odongo, and Paduny Odong (yet to testify).

Asked by lead counsel Ebert Byenkya to confirm whether he was consulted by Gertrude, Otema-Awany, and others, during the sale negotiations, Ocaya said he was sidestepped.

"Some of the transactions were done in Gulu town and I was not aware. They later brought documents, and asked me to endorse them, which I did," said Ocaya.

Kidege Ocaya (left) at the Land inquiry commission at archives center Kampala on Tuesday 11th September 2019.Photo by Ivan Kabuye

The ex-boss claimed he had never seen the sale agreement between Gertrude and Otema-Awany.

Prior, another witness Peter Kidega stated that his father Peter Ocaya, a contemporary of Oryema, sold land to the Reserve force commander.

Kidega purported that by the time his father died last year, he was yet to be fully paid. When probe commissioner Dr. Rose Nakayi asked whether the Ocaya estate administration had pursued payment, Kidega responded, " For us, we fear him(Otema-Awany).

Byenkya noted that it was strange that Ocaya sold 300 acres for sh3m. But the ex-LCI boss responded that although it looked odd, the agreement seemed genuine.

Otema- Awany is yet to testify. But the commission has seen documentation dated August 7, 2009, to the effect that he is a bona fide purchaser of 3,000 acres from Gertrude.

Commission fact file

On December 8, 2016, President Yoweri Museveni appointed a seven-member commission of inquiry chaired by Court of Appeal Justice Bamugemereire, to inquire into land matters. 

This was prompted by several documented instances of public outcry. The team took oath on February 19, 2017, with a mandate to inquire into the effectiveness of law, policies and processes of land acquisition, land administration, land management, and land registration. 

Subsequently, public hearings commenced on May 9, 2017, at National Archives and Records Centre in the city suburb of Nakasero.

On November 10, 2017, the President extended the probe's mandate for six months. Last year on May 4, 2018, Museveni endorsed an 18-month extension of the probe.

The probe commissioners are Frederick Ruhindi, Dr. Rose Nakayi, Mary Ochan, Robert Ssebunnya, Joyce Habaasa, and George Bagonza. 

Deputy lead counsel is John Bosco Suuza, while Andrew Odiit is assistant lead counsel.