KAMPALA .Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has replied President Museveni’s letter seeking to reinstate embattled acting Commissioner of Land Registration, Mr Baker Mugaino who was in April this year interdicted by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya .
In a strongly worded letter dated May 24,2025 and addressed to Ms Nabakooba, Mr Museveni expressed outrage over Mr Mugaino’s interdiction, which he said was carried out without his consultation, despite being the appointing authority.
“I have now been informed that the Commissioner of Land Registration, who is implementing this solution, has been removed from office on unspecified grounds, apparently acting on the directives of the IGG,” the President wrote.
He added, “How convenient! Do you have the authority to interdict such an officer [a presidential appointee] without my involvement? Why was I not consulted prior to this action being taken?”
According to the letter, the President had deployed Mr Mugaino to the Lands Ministry on a special assignment to address long-standing inefficiencies, fraud, and mismanagement, particularly within the Land Information System.
He claimed the country had lost $140 million (approximately Shs501.48 billion) amid continued double tilting, tax evasion, and fraudulent transactions. Mr Mugaino was tasked with leading a digitalisation initiative to streamline land processes. However, he was arrested and later interdicted following directives from the IGG.
In response, President Museveni ordered Minister Nabakooba to immediately lift the interdiction and continue the anti-fraud reforms.
“This is, therefore, to direct that you immediately lift that interdiction and address the fraud and inefficiency in the ministry as I directed you. If there are matters for investigation requiring removal of Mr Mugaino, these must be raised by the investigating entity with me as the appointing authority,” the President wrote.
But in her letter dated August 27,2025 , Ms Nabakooba said the administrative order of court in MA No.324 of 2025 restraining and preventing of implementation of IGGs directive to interdict ,was received after the interdiction had already taken place on April 28,2025.
“… I have further established that Mr Baker Mugaino was charged in Anti-Corruption Court by the Inspectorate of Government and remanded ,” she wrote
“ Your Excellency , I have forwarded your directive to the Permanent Secretary ,Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to urgently handle with the Inspectorate of Government and get back to me in order to update you on compliance with your directive ,” she added
Despite Nakakooba saying her ministry of ready to implement Museveni’s directive on lifting Mugaino’s interdiction , some legal experts have since raised concerns over his intervention in this matter describing it as a clear overreach, labelling it as “impunity” and a move that undermines the independence of government institutions in executing their constitutional mandates.
Human rights lawyer Mr Nicholas Opiyo strongly criticised the President’s directive, arguing that no one is above the law, not even the head of state.
“If there is a finding that such a person has been involved in inappropriate behaviour, the law should take its course, not the person who appointed them. The President is undermining the role of the IGG,” Opiyo said.
“Those advising the President must remind him that Uganda is a country governed by the rule of law.” Lawyer Caleb Alaka echoed similar sentiments, stating that the IGG operates independently, which is the very essence of her role as an ombudsman.
“The Constitution demands that the IGG’s work is not interfered with. That is why she is called an ombudsman whose core role is to keep government institutions in check,” Mr Alaka said.
“If I were the IGG, I would have resigned by now.”
Indeed, Article 227 of the Constitution explicitly guarantees the independence of the Inspectorate of Government, stating it is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority and is accountable only to Parliament.
Allegations against Mr Mugaino
Under the charge of abuse of office, the IGG alleges that between April 8 and 25, while serving as Commissioner for Land Registration, Mr Mugaino unlawfully cancelled land titles previously issued to Tropical Bank, Mr Gerald Akugizibwe, and Namayiba Park Hotel.
Mr Baker Mugaino (in grey checked jacket), the Commissioner for Land Registration in the Ministry of Lands, was arrested over alleged corruption and abuse of office. Photo/Courtesy
The disputed land is situated on Kibuga Block 12, Plots 658, 659, and 665 in Kisenyi. The IGG maintains that Mr Mugaino’s actions caused significant harm to affected landowners and seriously compromised the integrity of the land registration system.