By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) chaired by Kawempe South legislator Mubarak Munyagwa on July 9 appointed a taskforce to probe into the fraudulent takeover of departed Asians properties that kicked off with five living and deceased ministers cited in the illegal give away of hundreds of government properties under the auspice of the custodian board.
Asians were chased from Uganda in a mass expulsion by then president Idi Amin in 1972 and their properties were repossessed by the government.
However, Committee members Ibrahim Kasozi (Makindye East), Capt Donazio Kahonda (Ruhinda County) and Gideon Onyango (Samia Bugwe North) raised the matter of questionable acquisition of the properties citing different documents which showed distribution of the properties among the top government officials.
The Custodian Board pointed out Mayanja Nkagi former Uganda Land Commission boss, Moses Kintu who served under the Amin regime, Fred Omach former State Minister for Investment, Aston Kajara, and Charles Kadama who are accused of usurping powers of Minister of Finance with sole powers to issue these certificates.
The document cited by TheSpy show that the property ownership changed to the government officials and tycoons under unclear circumstances. The government is currently renting some of its former properties which include the offices for Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Kasozi added that; “When you look at this document,
you find one Indian has above 100 properties but when you go to the Bank of
Uganda Archives, you find that most of these properties were paid for by the
government. We need to invite these people to tell us how they got these
documents.”
“The current Attorney General needs to be invited to explain how almost 215
properties were repossessed,” he said.
MP Onyango said one of the buildings Parliament is renting as legislator’s offices was compensated for by government but someone acquired it and earns monthly rent from it.
The documents in possession of Cosase name Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Italy, Ms Mamtaz Kassam and the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Mr Pius Bigirimana among the owners of the properties.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Pius Bigirimana is said to have fraudulently acquired property at Prince Charles Drive in Kololo, businessmen Drake Lubega and Mansul Matovu had their names pop up in the probe and the Cosase wants Attorney General William Byaruhanga to explain how these properties were transferred from government possession to private individuals.
When contacted, Mr Bigirimana admitted he is the owner of the property but did not entertain questions on its status before he acquired it.
Kasozi further noted that Betty Amongi the Lands Minister on April 25 2018, convinced the Custodian Board meeting chaired by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija to sell plots 26-28 on Lugogo Bypass. It is not clear to whom the property was sold to and the committee wants the minister to explain how the sale was done.
However, Amongi denied participating in the board meeting where a resolution to sell the said property was made. She further accused legislators who questioned her of being “ignorant of the law”.
“That is ignorance of the law for people to begin moving around with documents mentioning things they don’t understand. The board has never sold any property in Lugogo. If you want the truth, get records of the minutes from the executive secretary of the Board,” Ms Amongi said.
Some of the properties include Plot 7 on Dewinton Road which belongs to Ms Kassam. Documents show government compensated the Asian owners.
The documents also shows she owns Plots 2A and 2B in Rubaga Division and
acquired powers of attorney from a departed Asian now a citizen of Canada.
Plot 6 on Princess Road which documents show it belongs to Mr Bigirimana who
acquired it on November 15, 2011. The property was first registered in 1964 in
the names of Hassanali Jafferali and Amirali Jafferali Jaffer and has since
changed ownership four times.
Plot 3 on Market Street. The property is registered under Roofings Limited, a steel company that manufactures iron building materials in Uganda. It is indicated the company obtained a lease from Kampala District Land Board for 49 years beginning 2011. The dossier blames government for negligence resulting in financial loss.
Plots 43-47/52 on Nakivuvo Road which has been at the centre of controversy between city tycoons Mansur Young, Drake Lubega and the late Charles Muhangi
The committee directed the Custodian Board to present a list of properties whose current owners are not known and also a list of those that were illegally reposed as well as details of all cases in court on the contested properties.
It should be recalled that in 1972, President Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda and defended his decision on grounds that Asians were sabotaging the economy to the extent that expatriated capital and profits were draining the country of wealth and agreed to pay the Asians who lost their property, by setting up a fund at Bank of Uganda with Asians who left for Canada and England paid through the Uganda High Commission for the value of their properties and 30% as disturbance allowance.
