By Insight Post Uganda
Wakiso -Uganda
President Museveni’s younger brother, Godfrey Aine Kaguta, known as Sodo, has been implicated in a land-grabbing scandal in Buloba town in Wakiso district.
The disputed plot, measuring three acres, has become a battleground for alleged fraudulent land acquisition, forced evictions, and a complex web of transactions.
Sodo’s involvement in the scandal is reportedly facilitated through one of his aides, Victor Owembabazi, who is accused of fraudulently acquiring the three-acre plot in Buloba.
The contentious land was previously owned by James Kiggundu, who had purchased it and partitioned it into plots, selling them to fifteen individuals while retaining two plots measuring 100/100 each.
Owembabazi’s actions escalated with the forceful eviction of tenants from their plots, known locally as “Bibanja.”
The contested land was fenced off, and armed private security guards were hired to restrict access, causing significant inconvenience to displaced residents and nearby inhabitants whose access routes were blocked.
The roots of the land ownership dispute trace back to Pele Kaloli Lutwama, who donated the land to Anna Nanfuka in 1990.
Nanfuka later partitioned and sold plots to Fred JJumba and Stephen Ssimbwa, with the latter selling it to Kiggundu in 2002. After Nanfuka’s passing, her two daughters and son processed letters of administration in 2014 to inherit the estate.
However, a fraudulent land sale agreement emerged, with Owembabazi basing his actions on it. The agreement, allegedly signed by the daughters Nabagesera and Namara, indicated the sale of land instead of specific plots, leading to the forced eviction of Bibanja holders.
The contentious agreement suggests that Owembabazi purchased the land at Shillings 900 million without specifying its exact size. Intriguingly, despite the prime vendors being the daughters, Nabagesera and Namara, two land dealers from Wakiso, Charles Kabanda, and Vincent Ssebanyiga, are also listed as vendors.
A recent land search revealed that the fenced-off plots had existing land titles under the names of Edward Mpoza Katurumba, printed in 2003, adding another layer of complexity to the already convoluted situation.
Residents’ Plight
The forced eviction and fencing off of the contested plots have left residents in distress. There are fears that Owembabazi, lacking precise measurements in the agreement, may extend the fencing beyond the three acres, causing more upheaval. Access routes have been blocked, forcing residents to leave their vehicles in paid parking spaces.
Despite the residents’ plight, Owembabazi remains steadfast, expressing pride in working for a superior authority.
He hired armed guards from a private security company, bypassing the district security company, and raising questions about the legitimacy of his actions.
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