The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | A team from Nakasero Primary School led by the School Management Committee chairman Joel. Kalyesubula Bakawa Ssekabembe on Tuesday appeared before the Land Probe Commission over a fraudulent attempt to give away the school playground.
This follows a petition the committee filed in May, 2017 with the commission seeking its indulgence in the matter in the land measuring approximately two acres located on plots 34 A1 Kyadondo road and Plot 5C Mackinon road.
Ssekabembe told the seven-member commission chaired by Justice Catherine Bamugemereirwe that in 2010 a company by the names of Prestigeous Apartments Ltd, owned by business tycoon Ephraim Ntaganda, approached them with a view of getting into a Public Private Partnership to develop the school land and renovate the school buildings.
However the move by Prestigeous Apartments Ltd caused mixed reactions hence dividing the members, some of whom collaborated with the company without the consent of the chairman.
These include former Kampala Central Chairman Amooti Godfrey Nyakaana, a one Kizito Mariam, Dr. Naiga Regina, Geraldine Misanvu and Gidudu Vicent.
Ssekabembe informed the Commission that in a bid to bring to light the fraud surrounding Nakasero Primary School land, he wrote to the the Ministry of Education whose Permanent Secretary then F.X.Lubanga right away objected to the company’s proposal to get into Public Private Partnership.
Lubanga then wrote to Uganda Land Commission advising them to hault the transaction, but Uganda Land Commission overlooked the letter to cancel the fraudulent deed as directed in the auditor generals report and went ahead and granted a 49 year lease of part of Nakasero primary school play ground to Ntanganda.
In 2014 the Chairman and some members of his committee who were opposed to the PPP, fenced off the land after they learnt that Prestigeous Apartments Ltd was in possession of land titles and in the process of commencing construction.
On their part the Commissioners hailed Ssekabembe for serving above self and promised to look into his recommendation of allowing schools to take custody of land titles but with executive powers being left to the ministry of Education.
