IGANGA: Govt intervenes to save Nakalama land from greedy tycoons

Iganga, (UG):- The Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Hon Judith Nalule Nabakooba has directed authorities in Iganga District to retrieve all documents regarding the controversial land of Nakalama sub-county headquarters which was reportedly grabbed by some town tycoons.

During the brief meeting held at the sub-county headquarters on Monday, Ms Nabakooba also handed to police at least four people to record statements about the land in question and present documents regarding land ownership.

These include; Hajji Nkoobe Hamdan, the area tycoon and Mr. Baga Sayid. Others who were taken by police to record statements were the area chairperson Mr. Swaga Muhammad and the recently transferred sub-county chief Mr. Wakabi Deo.

The chairperson of the village, Mr Swaga Muhammad publicly testified before the minister that Hajji Nkoobe teased him and gave in his signature on the first piece of land (4 acres) but couldn’t accept the same mistake when he returned in the guise of seeking for permission to get electricity for the house on the said land.

“Nkoobe built the house on the land and he approached me seeking permission to install piped water little did I know that he was using my signature to further strengthen himself on the land and I discovered it later. He told me that the earlier claims on the right ownership of the land where he built the house were already settled and I had no objection. He used me to get evidence in court that his actions were genuine,” Mr Swaga said.

However, Hamdan said the land belonged to his grandparents and that the sub-country sought his signature on where the sub-county land passes, something which didn’t satisfy the meeting before ordering police to seek more information from him.

Hajji Hamdan claims a total of 8 acres in the said land which is over 30 acres, part of which sits at Nakalama secondary school.

Hamdan said the land was reportedly given to the then parish by his grandfather, a one Kyairara but the sub-county settled and claimed the ownership of the land and that they have been seeking a document supporting the ownership of the land by the sub-county from their grandparent but all in vain and that no leader has presented it.

“They wanted us to give them ownership of this land but we have kept on refusing it. We should first know the number of land titles on this land and the names they bear instead of mentioning Hamdan alone,” Hajji Nkoobe Hamdan guided.

The arrest was reached when Hajji Nkoobe failed to explain about the additional four acres of land after earlier acquiring four acres which became controversial. This forced the district to lodge a criminal suit which they lost to Hamdan and later were advised by the district lawyer to forego proceeding with a civil suit in the high court since the district was hugely indebted, and the district executive also guided to settle the matter of the first four acres out of court, according to Mr. Iddi Bateganya, the assistant CAO Iganga district.

“I direct police officers to take Hajji Hamdan and retrieve all the documents from him and we see who gave him the land and the size of the land. We also need the application forms which were used while giving him the land. I need to know the people who signed for him to get the additional four acres he is claiming,” Minister Nabakooba directed.

However, some leaders like the NRM chairperson for Iganga district Hajji Walubi Abubakar were shocked by Mr Bateganya’s statement saying it was the first time to hear about settling the matter outside court, while the ACAO was claiming to have mentioned it at some point.

Hamdan said that he left some decimals of land when he was putting a land title and later bought some additional land from individuals who were yet to be established though he pinned the recently transferred sub-county Mr. Wakabi Deo to have signed for him while buying the said additional four acres to make the total of 8 acres which he claims.

In response, Hon Nabakooba promised to host a public hearing on the matter on March 11, 2024, which will be presided over by among others the State House Anti-corruption Unit and directed the Iganga Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr Wandera Sadala together with the NRM District Chairperson Hajji Walubi Abubakar to supervise the investigations to avail relevant documents regarding the said land.

“I want to thank the MPs for identifying the problem and alerting my office and we have agreed to do deep investigations into the matter. It’s our policy as a government to protect government land and I have directed the RDC to supervise these investigations with the chairperson NRM because they will be in a position to work with security agencies so that by the time a public hearing is conducted on March 11, 2024, enough information would have been collected,” Hon Minister said.

Monday’s meeting was attended by among others, the district woman MP Hon Kauma Sauda Alibaawo, MP Kigulu South Hon Muwuma Milton, the NRM chairperson Hajji Walubi Abubakar, LCV chairperson Mr Gabula Ezera, Nakalama sub-county chairperson Mr Hamidu Kawanguzi alias Sitya loss, former leaders at the sub-county, district officials and residents.