TORORO. The Uganda Lands Commission has disassociated itself from the alleged involvement in the illegal sale of the former Presidential State Lodge in Tororo Town.
The shocking revelation was made by a team of commission members during an engagement with Tororo District key stakeholders on the government’s proposal to digitalize land inventory on Tuesday.
The team, led by Commissioner Christine Helen Amongin Aporu, expressed surprise and concern upon discovering that the Presidential State Lodge had been leased to an Indian family.
Aporu directed the council to furnish the commission with all relevant information regarding the authenticity of the State House property to guide the commission’s investigation into the alleged fraudulent sale.
Peter Ekikina, President of Tororo Municipal Development Forum, questioned the circumstances under which the State lodge ended up in private possession.
“When we were growing up, this house used to be owned by State House right from the time of President Obote’s regime, where most State House functions would be held there, but we became surprised to see it being under possession of an individual,” he said.
Ekikina expressed concern that such practices undermine the credibility and integrity of government agencies and commissions.
Aporu emphasized that the commission will work with relevant investigative arms of government to fast-track the investigation and urged the public to provide information on public land that may have been diverted for private use. “I am so surprised that individuals can dare to sell State House property. You people of Tororo have a lot of courage to an extent that you can dare to lease out property belonging to State house,” she said.
Ronnie Bahungule, a Senior Lands Officer, described the transaction as fraudulent, stating that there is no information in the commission indicating that the State lodge in Tororo has been leased to a civilian of Indian origin. He appealed for more information to help track those involved in the alleged scam.
The meeting highlighted several cases of public land disputes, including former UTRO land, Leprosy resettlement land, Tororo District general hospital land, and pool houses for both Tororo district and municipal council. Kitong Okoth, Deputy Town Clerk of Tororo Municipal Council, reported a case of 4 acres of land belonging to the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, which has been encroached upon.
The commission is conducting a nationwide tour to register public land and properties, aiming to curb the rampant practice of public land grabbing and ensure transparency in land ownership.