Lawmakers on the Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has quizzed officials from the Kampala District Land Board over their role in dishing out properties of Asians, yet there was a dedicated agency to manage the property.
Appearing before the Committee on Tuesday November 19, Yusuf Nsibambi Chairman Kampala District Land Board conceded that his office erred when it engaged in giving away properties that were under the auspice of the Departed Asians Custodian Board.
More than 200 properties in Kampala are under scrutiny by the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises to verify how they were given out by the Kampala district land board a matter outside its mandate.
Nsibambi told the MPs that the claimants of the properties presented documentation to effect the repossession but he learned that these were fraudulently executed and that he had embarked on efforts to recall and cancel some of the titles that were issued out.
He said, “Some of the properties were compensated for but we have handled and dealt in properties which we shouldn’t have dealt with on the basis of forged documents, repossession certificate, letters of administration. As a Board, we are going to investigate cases which have been given to us, over 68 and look out for proprietors of those properties, forgeries or improper acquisition, we definitely have to rescind our minute, cancel those titles.”
Nsibambi added, “We have specific cases we have started on, we have people we have summoned, some of them are cooperative but at least with the forces of law and support of Parliament after their report, it will be easier for us to cancel those titles.”
The Committee Chairman Ibrahim Kasozi ordered Yusuf Nsibambi to furnish the committee with an inventory of properties they have dealt with among others and the justifications for their actions.