MPs probe 568 missing land titles in Masaka

The parliamentary committee on natural resources has started investigations into the disappearance of 568 land titles in Masaka district.

The titles belonging to several residents in the sub-counties of Matanga, Kalagala, Samaria and Mukungwe, were allegedly surrendered to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) in 2016, for purposes of cutting off 40-meters (wayleave) for its higher voltage power line.

However, the residents told legislators that the company did not hand the titles back to the respective owners. A wayleave is a right of way granted by the land or property owner for development.

This may include the erection and laying of power lines, rail lines, highway roads, water mains, sewers, telephone cables, or digging a footpath.

Wayleave radius is supposed to be clear of any activity, to ensure the safety of life and property.

Two years ago, UETCL commissioned the 220kV Kawanda- Masaka transmission line project, which will evacuate power from the Bujagali and the proposed Karuma 600MW Hydropower Station and from other hydropower stations, that will serve as a high-voltage backbone for the proposed regional grid interconnection projects with Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The committee, which was on a fact-finding mission on the status of the transmission lines and progress of the power substations, supervised by UETCL in the districts of Masaka (city), Mbarara (city), Kasese and Fort Portal (city), undertook to intervene in the matter following complaints from the residents.

"The committee will investigate the matter and give its findings to the House for debate. We have written to the lands ministry and other responsible agencies to appear before us for questioning on the allegations," Kigulu County South MP Andrew Kaluya Kiiza said.

Kaluya is the vice-chairperson of the committee. The committee chairperson is Dr Keefa Kiwanuka. The other members are Kassiano Ezati Wadri and Florence Namayanja, the area MP.

Namayanja explained that the disappearance of the titles has greatly affected the residents, noting that some of them cannot mortgage their land to secure bank loans.

"It is unfortunate that our people are suffering because UECTL has refused to return their titles. Some of the residents cannot even sell their land; the issue must be dealt with urgently," Namayanja, the Bukoto East lawmaker, said.

 Wadri said the matter will be expeditiously dealt with, such that the residents are not deprived of their land.\

UETCL SPEAKS OUT

When contacted, UETCL community liaison officer Julius Kamukama said the company handed over the titles in question to the commissioner of land titles in the lands ministry in Kampala, after it had cut off the required 40-meter land corridor, where the higher voltage power line passes.

He also revealed that the residents were duly compensated.

"The affected residents were compensated up to the tune of sh35b, basing on the report of the Chief Government Valuer," Kamukama said.

Residents speak out

Michael Kalumba of Kitemba A and B villages in Mukungwe sub-county said: "We suspect corruption. One officer from the lands ministry warned us that unless we pay some money, we may not get our land titles in time."

Paul Kalanzi who owns five acres of land in Kitenga- Mukungwe, said: "Many households are affected and worried about the many fraudsters who might grab their land."