By Kabageny marion
Masindi
Registrar of titles to give verdict on Kayanja land in three weeks
Diana Nambi, the senior registrar of titles in the ministry of lands has promised to give her verdict regarding the ownership of Kayanja land.
On Tuesday, a team of leaders from Masindi municipality and the district led by Ronald Businge Kyomuhendo the mayor Masindi municipality, Moses Kirya the district speaker, Kabakumba Labwoni Matsiko the chairperson NRM, Joab Businge the MP Masindi municipality, Florence Asiimwe the woman MP, and the tow LIII of nyangaya division among others had a hearing of the matter with Nambi the registrar of titles in the ministry of land.
The hearing followed a complaint by Kyomuhendo Mayor who wrote the registrar of titles requesting for the cancellation of of the lease title comprised in Buruli Block 5 plot 39 lease hold register ULC/154/0047, volume 2900, folio 20 land at Kayanja measuring 52.7ha situated at Kayanja cell Karujubu division Masindi Municipality.
In his letter, he stated that the described land was formerly registered in the name of the Board of Governors National Teachers College (NTC) Masindi having been donated by the community of Kayanja cell for education purposes.
He said to the dismay of the leaders of Masindi district instead of transferring it to Kamurasi Primary Teachers College as was agreed upon by the stakeholders since the lease was still running for more than 40 years.
He said the title was consequently registered in the name of Magalies Distillers Uganda limited contrary to the objectives of educational purposes as had been agreed by the community and the leaders.
After hearing from the district leaders Nambi tasked the leaders to verify with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to ascertain the authenticity of the company.
She gave them two weeks to have done so such that they’re able to produce a report in three weeks. This was after the leaders argued that they’re doubting the existence of the company.
“Within three weeks you should have done the verification as we also write a report. It’s good that we have heard from you. What you have raised is will be put under consideration. Help us to do the needful,” she appealed to the leaders.
However, during the hearing, Magalies Distillers Uganda limited directors never showed up though the company was written to such that both parties are heard
When the president directed for the establishment of Bunyoro university, about one year ago, Masindi district council sat and recommended for the establishment of the greater Masindi compass on the same land . The greater Masindi compass will take Masindi, Kiryandongo and Buliisa districts.
After the recommendation, it was discovered that the land title had been silently transferred from Masindi National Teachers’ College (NTC) to Keith Brown the purported director of Magalies Distillers Uganda limited without the knowledge of the local leadership and the community. NTC secured a land title in 2001.
Initially the land was given out to Masindi NTC by the community of Kayanja cell for education purposes and when Masindi NTC was phased out in 2005, it was passed on to Kamurasi Primary Teachers’ College which has been also phased out.
The leaders were disappointed when they discovered that the purported investor had already secured a 49 year lease in 2007 to use the land for distilling mollases from Kinyara sugar limited, bee keeping and honey processing for export and the processing for starch from cassava.
At the end of last year, Joab Businge the legislator for Masindi Municipality raised the same issue on the floor of parliament as a matter of national importance and asked the speaker to ensure that the investigations are expedited such that a university is established on the same piece of land .
The speaker promised to ensure that investigations are expedited and instructed the ministry of education and also the lands ministry to do the necessary and ensure the land is given to Bunyoro university greater Masindi branch.
In September last year, Sam Mayanja, the minister of state for lands visited the same land and ordered for the cancellation of the land title in vain
He also said that he was going to write to statehouse anti- corruption unit (SACHU) directing them to investigate how the matter.
“I am going to write a report to SACHU to investigate all these individuals who were involved in this fraud. Whether they are retired or not they should be got and prosecuted because they committed a crime and crime has no time limitation,” said.
He assured the residents that the land title would be cancelled and advised the people of Masindi to prepare for the university.