The raging row over the ownership and usage of the 120 acres of land belonging to the Uganda Scouts Association at Kaazi in Wakiso district has reached fever pitch with documents showing that some of
the Uganda Scouts Association leaders obtained a substitute certificate of title with the help of some officials from Uganda Land Commission (ULC) before they sub-divided and sub-leased part of the land to two companies.
The companies are M/s Serena Heights Kaazi Ventures and M/s Sky and Lakes Limited. These two subsequently started parceling out the land to private individuals for commercial and residental purposes.
Records from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau indicate that Serena Heights Kaazi Ventures was formed in 2022, while M/s Sky and Lakes Limited was incorporated in 2011.
The sub-leases to the companies were signed off by all members of the scouts’ association leadership and witnessed by officials from the national scouts board, except Lucy Nakyobe, who was listed as a witness, but she never signed against it.
Some of the prominent names that appear on the signed sub leases include Bishop Nelson Onono Onweng, Patrick Barugahare Mujuni, and Dr. John Mugisha, who are trustees of the Uganda Scouts Association.
The leases were witnessed by Chief Scout Dr. Maggie Kigozi, Richard Kamya, and Lawrence Kazoya on behalf of the National Scouts’ board.
The land in question is in Kyadondo block 273, Plot 5, which forms part of the 350 square miles known as Olusuku lwa Kabaka (the Kabaka’s plantation).
Last week, the head of the presidential special task force on lands and environment, Brig Gen. Moses Lukyamuzi stopped any further development on the land pending investigations.
A group of individuals had embarked on cutting down trees and grading the land, but they have since faced resistance from armed individuals.
Amid these developments, the Buganda Kingdom has also petitioned the commissioner of land registration, calling for the cancellation of all the titles that have been acquired on the land, on grounds that they were erroneously obtained.
In a letter dated October 25th, 2023, Buganda Land Board (BLB), the organization mandated to manage Buganda Kingdom land, protested the subdivision and sub-leasing of the land by ULC without the consent of the Kabaka of Buganda, the registered proprietor of the land.
In their letter, a copy of which we have seen, BLB argued that the terms of the lease were for the land to be exclusively used for camping purposes and that the association was prohibited from subdividing, sub-leasing or alienating the said land, which have been violated.
Buganda Kingdom now wants to repossess the land on grounds that the terms of ownership have illegally been changed from being a camping site to commercial and residental use.
The Kingdom also condemned the issuance of titles on the land by ULC and lands ministry when the registered proprietor (Kabaka) is not aware. BLB argued that ULC has no proprietary interest in this land and can not deal or transact any business since its mandate on the land ceased by operation of the law in 1993.
Buganda Kingdom argued that the lands ministry should never have approved the sub-dividing of the land since the mother title to this block is clearly in the names of the Kabaka of Buganda. BLB has since placed a caveat on the land.
EDUCATION MINISTRY SPEAKS OUT
The Education ministry which oversees Uganda Scouts Association activities when contacted, the
spokesperson, Dr. Dennis Mugimba, said the ministry was not aware of any sub-divisions or sub-leases on the scouts’ land.
The commissioner for physical education and sports, in whose docket scouting falls, will follow it up and brief the education minister and first Lady, Mrs. Janet Museveni, about it,” Mugimba said.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at centralupdates31@gmail.com or stmaurice35@gmail.com or call and Whatsapp us on 0758 931705
