Entebbe Municipality Town Clerk Emmanuel Mugisha Gacharo has reportedly gone into hiding to evade arrest by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU).
Gacharo is alleged to have fled after investigators arrested his Senior Assistant Town Clerk, Dan Fred Lutaaya, over his alleged involvement in the irregular sale of municipal property in Manyago Housing Estate, Division A, Entebbe Municipality. Lutaaya is accused of authorising the transaction by signing relevant documents on Gacharo’s instructions.
Other officials arrested in connection with the alleged fraudulent land transactions include Manyago LC1 Chairperson Enock Bulwa Mpiima, land broker Kasaija Aggrey and Production Officer Samson Ssemakula, among others. The suspects were reportedly granted bail after spending two days in police custody, while other individuals linked to the transactions remain at large.
The group is accused of facilitating the sale of municipal property valued at more than Shs93 million, with ownership documents allegedly processed to facilitate the transfer.
It is further alleged that the Town Clerk’s residence on Kanagwa Hill in Division A, Entebbe Municipality, was sold for approximately Shs700 million to an Iranian national identified as Bijan.
According to sources, Lutaaya allegedly issued letters of no objection and goodwill letters and signed sale agreements on the instructions of Town Clerk Gacharo.
Upon learning of Lutaaya’s arrest, Gacharo reportedly left his office and has since been on the run, with sources alleging that he is hiding in a hotel in the area.
Following the arrests, Entebbe Mayor Fabrice Rulinda reportedly convened an emergency meeting at Paniel Beach near Entebbe Airport, where he warned municipal officials against engaging in corruption, saying those involved risk arrest and prosecution.
Highly placed sources further allege that one of the brokers implicated in the transactions, a former municipal councillor, is related to Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government.
The latest developments have also revived concerns over the alleged irregular disposal of public land in Entebbe Municipality. Sources claim that several plots belonging to public institutions, including land attached to Lake Victoria Primary School, have previously been sold without following the required procedures.
A source who requested anonymity called on SHACU to widen its investigations to cover other land transactions in the municipality, as well as allegations of local revenue mismanagement.
“We should not be arresting Lutaaya alone when the person who authorised the transaction is also there. We should also question how our taxes and local revenue are allegedly stolen while projects are inflated,” the source said.
Meanwhile, several municipal employees are reportedly restricting themselves to their offices amid fears that they could also be arrested as investigations continue.
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