The Bamugemereire Led Land Commission has today heard that the army barracks land at Mbuya was sold. The Chairperson of the Land Board Lt. Gen. Joram Mugume said the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi sold the Mbuya army barracks land. “The army land at lower Mbuya which was given to the Kabaka by the Uganda Land Commission, we have since come to learn that the Land Commission transferred the mentioned plots to the Kabaka who also sold and transferred the same to Mandella Auto Spares Limited.” Said, Lt. Gen. Joram Mugume – Chairperson, Military Land Board.

According to Lt. Gen. Mugume Mbuya land was given out to the Kabaka by the Uganda Land Commission to compensate him for the land where Nakawa Court was constructed. “In 2012, the Uganda Land Commission in compensation for land previously owned by the Kabaka where the current Nakawa Court is built decided to create plots MH61, M169 and M170 out of the army land without consulting the Ministry of Defense, a title was created and handed over to the Kabaka.” The Kabaka was allocated 8 acres in 2012. He revealed to a member of the royal family whom he did not name who walked into the barracks waiving the title of the land. “In 2012, we saw one of the Royals coming to our office of the land board holding a title. Now this is entirely inside the barracks and I don’t think that the Kabakas had access or stepped on that land before even they transferred it to Mandela Auto Spares?” “The Kabaka is this part of the country is known to be the owner of the land so usually it is the Kabaka allocating land to government or individuals.” Said, John Bosco Suuza Assistant Legal Council. “In Luganda we say; Byotubulide binzigye envili kumutwe: meaning if I had plenty of hair because of what you have told us, my hair would have all gone but I don’t have any.” Said, Robert Ssebunya – Land Commissioner.

However, the army was still in the possession of the land it has occupied since the 1960s. Lt. Gen. Mugume also revealed that Kampala District Land Board gave away 30 plots of land belonging to the army to individuals. “Fraudulently, a portion set aside and plots created and allocated to individuals.” Even after naming the individuals who bought the Mbuya barracks land between 12 and 29 million shillings per plot, Commissioner Fred Ruhindi who is a former Attorney General revealed that those who bought the land could have been proxies. “These may be just proxies or fronts, did you really interact with people purchasing?” “My Lord, No maybe Kampala District Land Board.”