By KT Reporter
Nakasongola District has issued a stern warning to leaders and technical staff against the sale of public land at sub-county headquarters.
In 2015, the Cabinet directed that all land allocations/ processing of applications for private use at district headquarters, formerly counties and sub-county headquarters, be stopped immediately.
“This circular is therefore serves to direct you to communicate to Area Land Committee and Technical Staff within your district namely District Land officer, Staff Surveyor, District Registrar of Titles, Valuer, District Physical Planner and Environment officer about this directive to ensure compliance “ Mulinde Mukasa Kintu on behalf of Permanent Secretary of Lands Ministry wrote to all Chief Administrative Officers.
However, despite the directive, land transactions are ongoing in Nakasongola district, leaving sub-counties at risk of encroachment and eviction. The affected sub-counties include Kakooge, Wabinyonyi and Nabiswera among others.
Fredson Wilson Kakooza, the LCIII Chairperson of Nabiswera sub-county, said that although the sub-county was allocated 49 acres of land by the Buganda Kingdom, currently only 25 acres are remaining after others were sold by the chiefs of the kingdom.
Kakooza explains that the latest case involved the sale of a plot of land to Emmanuel Byaruhanga at the land planned for a community centre at the sub-county headquarters.
Kakooza said that when he consulted with Byaruhanga, he claimed the Buganda chief for the sub-county and officials of the Buganda Land Board had finalised the transaction for eventual issuance of a land title.
“As the leadership, we are against any move to sell land at the sub-county headquarters and shall do everything to resist it. We have already written to the Lands Minister in the Kingdom and asked him to clarify on the matter,” Kakooza said.
As a result, the Office of Nakasongola Chief Administrative Officer has issued a directive to all sub-county chiefs and the town clerk, warning them against participating in the illegal sale of public land.
In his circular dated 10th April 2025, Daris Kaggwa, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Nakasongola district, directed the staff to ensure all government land is protected from encroachment and inform councils that they don’t have power to allocate or donate land by law; thus any anybody involved will be responsible.
“Your attention is drawn to section 32 of the Public Finance Management Act, which states that the accounting officer shall not pledge or encumber the land or any asset without permission of Parliament. The office of the Accounting officer has not authorised any land transaction to date,” Kaggwa said in the circular.
Sam Kigula, the LCV Chairman of Nakasongola district, has warned the public against buying land in subcounties, saying they risk losing their money in such deals.
Efforts to reach Robert Ssonko, the Buruuli County Chief for Buganda Kingdom, were unsuccessful because he didn’t pick up our calls-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
