Last year, a controversy arose over land ownership in Mbale City involving Mrs. Sheila Akandanaho, who hails from the first family. The disputed land, situated on Cathedral Avenue Lane, has housed Yahweh Church Ministries for 12 years.
Despite the Uganda Land Commission’s decision to lease the land, Mbale City authorities claimed ownership and allocated it to Mrs. Akandanaho.
Simultaneously, State Minister Hon. Sam Mayanja purportedly directed the land to Mr. Zubair Galiwango, brother of the late NRM director Hassan Galiwango. However, Hon. Mayanja denied involvement despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
Mbale City officials, accused of corrupt land dealings, are now eyeing the city offices for sale, exploiting the land dispute for personal gain.
Records indicate that the land was surrendered to the Office of the President by the Gymkhana group in 1956, affirming its ownership by the Uganda Land Commission. However, amidst concerns of the first family’s interest in the land, the Land Commission sought guidance from the Solicitor General’s Office in January. Shockingly, the file pertaining to the dispute has gone missing from the Solicitor General’s Office.
Allegations suggest collusion between certain office staff and an individual named Frank, purportedly a State House aide, in the disappearance of the file. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Solicitor General remains unaware of the missing file, indicating possible corruption within the office.
The rightful ownership of the land appears to belong to the Uganda Land Commission, not Mbale City, which had previously forged documents to claim ownership without proper consultation.
The disappearance of critical documents from the Solicitor General’s Office raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency in our institutions. It underscores the urgent need for thorough investigations and reform to prevent such incidents from recurring.
