MASAKA, Uganda
The Senior Lands Officer at the Masaka Ministry Zonal Office, Zziwa Colbert Tamale, has been arrested over allegations of land fraud, illegal titling and abuse of office in Greater Masaka.
Zziwa was arrested in Masaka in an operation conducted by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force. He is expected to be arraigned in court once investigations into the allegations are completed.
His arrest follows allegations previously raised by Lwemiyaga Constituency MP Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande, who accused Zziwa of colluding with land grabbers and other individuals to fraudulently acquire land titles and facilitate the issuance of titles to people who were allegedly not entitled to them.
According to the allegations, Zziwa is being investigated over the issuance of more than 265 allegedly irregular land titles in the Greater Masaka area, including titles involving Central Forest Reserve land and privately owned land. Investigators are also examining allegations of collusion between Zziwa and other officials involved in land administration.
Ssekandi land among cases under investigation
One of the cases cited involves land belonging to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka.
According to the allegations, the land, which was originally said to measure about 83 acres, was allegedly reduced to 34 acres in the land records before a new title was reportedly created and the property subdivided into several plots.
The circumstances surrounding the alteration of the land records and subsequent subdivision are among the matters expected to be examined as investigations continue.
Residents allegedly charged for free titling
Zziwa is also accused of being involved in a scheme in Sembabule in which residents were allegedly asked to pay money under the guise of facilitating the acquisition of free land titles.
The allegations come against the backdrop of a government programme through which the Ministry of Lands provides free titles to selected beneficiaries, particularly residents facing possible eviction or land disputes.
Authorities are expected to establish whether residents were unlawfully charged and whether any officials or intermediaries benefited from the alleged scheme.
Possible charges
According to the information available, Zziwa could face charges including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony and forgery, depending on the outcome of the investigations.
Authorities have called on residents of Greater Masaka who have complaints or information concerning alleged land fraud involving Zziwa to report to Masaka Police Station or contact the toll-free line 0800202500.
The allegations against Zziwa have not yet been determined by a court, and he remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Gen. Rwashande is expected to provide further details about the allegations and the wider problem of land fraud in Greater Masaka during an interview on the broadcaster's online television platform.
The investigation is expected to shed more light on the alleged illegal issuance of titles, the people who may have benefited from the transactions and whether other officials or individuals were involved.
