When the National Resistance Army (NRA) the present day UPDF took over power in 1986, the army settled on land belonging to East Mengo Growers and Cooperative Union at Kaweweta in Ngoma Nakaseke district on which a military training ground was set up. In 1993, the UPDF compensated the registered proprietor of the land East Mengo Growers and Cooperative Union with 400 million shillings but the title remained in the names of the cooperative union. Later in 2015, President Yoweri Museveni directed that part of the land totaling 9,300 hectares be allocated to a Turkish investor to establish an economic trade free zone. However, officials of East Mengo Growers and Cooperative Union allegedly made a ploy to defraud the government of 3.8 billion shillings. “Trying to defraud the government of 3.8 billion shillings. We are talking about here corruption generally, there was a title deed you had which you handed over to the army. Then you come back and apply for a special title.” Said, Robert Ssebunya – Commissioner Land Probe.
“Was it the same title that you were given previously but you had handed over to the Ministry, it was the same title?” “It was the same title.” “And it had not been transferred from East Mengo Growers to…?” “It was still in East Mengo.” It was alleged that Ssemwogerere in connivance with Union lawyers and government officials obtained a special title deed from the registrar of titles seeking to receive another payment on the same land that had already been compensated in 1993. “Yet another reputation law firm Isbule and Mayiga law firm could sit down and scheme to defraud Ugandans after receiving 400 million." Said, George Bagonza – Commissioner Land Probe.
Ssemwogerere refused to defer to put off details of who was behind the fraud he requested to be heard in camera. “Maybe it would need a private session, a private discussion.” “You mean hearing you on camera?” “Yeah.” “That’s where you want to disclose the name of the person that sent you?” “Yeah, that’s where I want to disclose the name. I think he was some government official, he was some young man.” “Think about hearing you in camera, Mr. Ssemwogerere you better come straight because it doesn’t matter if we go into camera and you play these tricks I won’t let you go just like that.” Said, Justice Catherine Bamugemereire – Chairperson Land Probe.
Earlier on the Commission had questioned the Rt. Principal State Attorney Ben Turyasingura whom they accused of being part of the fraud. “That there was an attempt, delivered attempt to defraud government intentionally. And that, you are part of that attempt.” Said, John Bosco Suuza – Assistant Lead Counsel. But Turyasingura explained that it was him who discovered that the land title had gone missing. “I had completely forgotten about it, I didn’t know anything about it until this document the Court proceedings were brought to me and I was surprised that I was the one who was handling it.” Said, Ben Turyasingura – Retired State Attorney.
