MPs quiz land commission officials over fraud

KAMPALA-Members of Parliament yesterday questioned officials from the Uganda Land Commission [ULC] over a case of fraud in the Land Information System [LIS]

The MPs on Parliament’s Committee on Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) were yesterday interfacing the ULC officials in parliament.

Committee chairperson, Joel Ssenyonyi disclosed that he saw the commission’s letter dated January 6, 2022, requesting for a payment of Shs 250 million to Leonard Kizito and Francis Kigonya for a plot of land at Bugangaizi block.

The two were supposed to be paid Shs 950 million but had been paid Shs700 million by the Uganda Land Commission.

The letter indicated that the two had been summoned by CID to explain how their account was allegedly about to be credited with Shs400 million.
“Somebody managing the system at Uganda Land Commission wanted to steal Shs150 million. How are these systems working?” Ssenyonyi asked.

MPs attributed the fraud to the disconnection of the commission from the National Land Information System by Uganda Telecom Limited [UTL].

The National Land Information System aims at providing a secure, efficient, sustainable and cost effective land administration and registration system for Uganda.

It also aims at improving service delivery in the land sector, facilitating enterprise development and strengthening public confidence in government.

Officials from UTL told the Committee that Uganda Land Commission was disconnected from the system because of non-payment of subscription fees.

Appearing before the committee, Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba said she was not aware that the disconnection was attributed to non-payment.

She said she got to know that ULC was not connected to the system, towards the end of 2021 after ULC petitioned her on issues that were not being handled properly.
“I directed in two meetings that the Uganda Land Commission be put back on the system and I was assured by the Permanent Secretary that it would be worked on. I have just learnt of issues of non-payment this week,” Nabakooba said.

The suspended Chairperson of Uganda Land Commission, Beatrice Byenkya said she was also not aware that the commission was disconnected from the National Land Information System because of non-payment.

She explained that owing to an upgrade at the time, the system would later incorporate information that encompasses the land managed by ULC.
“Payment is something you can put in the budget and we have never put anything in the budget for payment for the Land Information System,” Byenkya said.

Nabakooba said she called for an urgent meeting between the Commission and the ministry after the issue of the Land Information System had been raised.
“Following their submission, I wrote to the IGG and Auditor General and attached the Commission’s submissions and requested for an investigation and report,” said the Minister.

Arru North County MP Santa Okot tasked Charles Muhoozi, a commissioner at ULC to provide proof that Byenkya had ordered the deactivation of the system.
“If you do not have that proof, then it is the connivance amongst you commissioners to tarnish the name of the chairperson or to bring grievances in your work,” she said.

Hashim Sulaiman [Nebbi Municipality] tasked ULC on ignorance that its disconnection from the Land Information System was premised on non-payment yet UTL had written to them on the matter.
“We should not be diverted. I wonder what they are doing in ULC; fighting, disorganizing the commission and not doing the work they are supposed to do. I think they are hiding information from us,” Sulaiman said.

MP Mpindi Bumali accused Nabakooba of failure to follow up on her directive to have the commission reconnected to the Land Information System.
“The commissioners came here and we interrogated them as to why the Land Information System was not on and that is why they ran to put it back on last week. This has been our effort,” he said.

Workers MP Charles Bakkabulindi cited connivance noting that UTL reconnected the commission to the system before having been cleared of its outstanding payments.

Yusuf Nsibambi, MP Mawokota County South, said the witnesses take oath noting that they were presenting contradictory information to the committee.

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