The Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters summoned the State Minister of Cooperatives Gume Ngobi to explain why he was involved in giving away a 25-acre piece of land to the Indian owned firm Favorite Company Limited in 2012. “You knew this land very well because you were the Chairperson of the Management Committee at some time. Did you believe that actually Mr. Pande owned this land customary or he had acquired it and got it, how could you come to bless his application?” Said, Joyce Habaasa – Commissioner. “When they told me that there is a title for the school, I didn’t get due diligence to go again because I knew we have infrastructure informs of bound.” Gume Ngobi – State Minister for Cooperatives.

The land and quotation belonged to the government but David Pande local land surveyor colluded with Gume who was the Jinja LC5 Chairman at the time to allocate the land. This was in controversy to the law. With Gume’s help, Pande sold the land at 160 million shillings. The Minister received a 5million shilling bribe from Pande for his role in facilitating the illegal sale of the land. “I was also saying, what is happening if a person can stand before the press and say; the LC5 Chairman received 160 million, my children were ringing me; daddy what did you do? Really I did not receive 160 million.” Said, the State Minister for Cooperatives. “We have more than one witness and now we have vouchers here and we have statements made and that is why you are here to have a fair hearing.” Said, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire. “But I have already told you, my lord, I want to be protected. I have never looked at that voucher, I didn’t sign it either. But for me, what I know is that I received money from Pande because he owed me money. I never looked at the voucher because if it was valued a land I wouldn’t have endorsed. It would maybe have been payment to the money you lent me.”said the state minister for cooperatives.

Favorite Enterprises had not been able to use the land since 2012 since its ownership remained under contention. The Committee faulted Gume who was the political head of the district for having used his office to influence the illegal sale of the land. Gume chaired a meeting in which the sale of the land was authorized.

Gume and David Pande were accused of bypassing the Uganda Land Commission who were the rightful custodians of the land. “That letter sounded very equivocal because Mr. Wayibale was saying unless you produce evidence, he was actually requesting the Commission to produce evidence to the effect that the land is theirs. I’m finding it difficult to be comfortable with a political head in a district relying on a letter without first of all the initial letter and without ascertaining whether indeed evidence was produced.” Said, Dr. Rose Nakayi – Commissioner. “That the application was not handled by me, two; the Land Board has its own agenda and shadow meetings to which I don’t share with them. Now how it ended on the agenda, Mr. Bayibale and the Secretary should know...” Said the State Minister for Cooperatives. Meanwhile, the Commission was set to take a break next week to start preparing an interim report.