The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Eighty year old Guster Muwanga is in trouble for fraudulently selling 500 acres of land in Luweero and Nakasongola districts. Muwanga is being held by the Criminal Investigations Directorate-CID following his arrest by the Land Protection Police Unit-LPPU.
He is accused of masquerading as an administrator of estates belonging to the late Joshua Kabiine. A team of officers from the LPPU led by Commissioner of Police-CP Charles Mutungi arrested Muwanga after the lawful administrators lodged a complaint upon realising that the estate of their late father and grandfather had been sold without their knowledge.
The lawful administrators according to the letter of administration issued by the High Court include Kirumira Henry Gyagenda, a son to the late Kabiine, Sekayala Fenekansi Sendowooza, a grandson,, Nakitto Sanyu Mayi and Katazza Harriet Kanaabi, both granddaughters.
The land in question comprises block 722 in Bulemeezi in Luweero district and block 224 in Bululi in Nakasongola. The land in Luweero measures 370 acres while that in Nakasongola measures 130 acres.
When the quartet sought police intervention, Assistant Inspector of Police-AIP Florence Nakiranda summoned Muwanga on August 11th, 2021, to appear at LPPU to record a statement on charges of obtaining registration by false pretence.
“This office is investigating a case of obtaining registration by false pretence in respect of the land comprised in Bulemeezi block 722 plot 9-24, land at Lutura and Buluri block 224 plots 17 to 46. You are therefore required to report at CID headquarters Kibuli land protection police unit,” AIP Nakiranda’s summon read in part.
Police opened inquiries vide REF CID HQTRS LPPU GEF 133/2021. Muwanga showed up on August 18th, 2021 as instructed and accused Enock Sendawula and Yasin Kayongo of having persuaded him to sell the land.
Police released Muwanga on bond and asked him to return in a week’s time with the letters of administration that were allegedly processed by Sendawula and Kayongo authorizing him to sell the land in vain.
CID detectives decided to trace for Muwanga until they arrested him last week. Muwanga told Uganda Radio Network that he has tried to look for Sendawula and Kayongo in vain. According to Muwanga, Sendawula and Kayongo took 40 and 25 acres respectively. The duo reportedly took the land promising to get him surveyors, in addition to getting him letters of administration and land titles for each occupant.
“They did not give me the documents they processed for me as administrator. I was first approached by Sendawula and he took 40 acres in order to help me get the letters of administration and land titles for occupants. Sendawula disappeared after selling his 40 acres of land,” Muwanga said.
Kayondo also sold his 25 acres and vanished without a trace. Muwanga claims that the two no longer pick his calls and he has failed to locate them at their known residences. Since Muwanga disappeared when he was first released on bond, detectives have decided to keep him in custody as he helps them trace for Sendawula and Kayongo.
Muwanga is a son to late William Katazza, who was also a son to Joshua Kabiine. He claims that his father Katazza had been selected as their heir but his grandfather Kabiine died in 1973 before handing over to him the estate.
But the documents obtained from High Court by police show Francis Kitaka was the administrator and left the responsibility to Gyagenda, Sekayala, Nakitto and Kanaabi. Muwanga is not anywhere cited as an administrator or heir to one of the deceased.
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