Kadir Kirungi, the LC 3 chairman of Busiisi division in Hoima municipality, and Samuel Muganzi, the assistant town clerk are in trouble for allegedly disposing off illegally a plot of land belonging to Busiisi SIDA SACCO. The duo is being investigated for their involvement in the sale of the land of the SACCO together with six other suspects. The land in question was sold off to Wilson Kyamuhondeire, Kibaale District Forestry Officer in May 2011.
Kirungi and Muganzi signed the sale agreement as witnesses to the transaction. Other implicated officials are Yabezi Muhumuza, the finance officer Busiisi Division, SACCO board chairman, Edward Kiiza and his treasurer Caxton Bahemurwaki. Last month, members of Busiisa SACCO set up a five probe committee to investigate the illegal transaction and report back in one month.
Polnali Balyesiima, chairman of the probe committee says that his team intends amongst other things to establish how the land was discretely sold off and the whereabouts of the money that was realized from the sale. He says his team has summoned each of the signatories on the land sale agreement for an explanation in order to establish the truth of the matter. Balyesiima says a report will be produced next week, presented to the Sacco members, police and other relevant authorities for the next course of action.
Herbert Kagezi, the secretary to the probe committee explains that the land in question was allocated to the SACCO by Busiisi Sub County last year for the construction of its offices. He the illegal sale of the land affected their plans to construct a permanent home for the SACCO. Kagezi says that the SACCO has been finding it difficult to secure any credit from local banks because of lack of security saying they hoped the office would act as security for them to acquire loans.
But Kadir Kirungi, Busiisi Division LC 3 chairman denies any wrong doing despite the fact that his signature appears on the land sale agreement. Kirungi insists that he did play any role in the sale of the land because he had not yet assumed office when the land was sold off. He blames his political opponents for dragging his name in the land mess to destroy his reputation. The other implicated officials have not commented on their alleged involvement in the land as some of could neither pick nor return our calls.
But Wilson Kyamuhondeire, who bought the disputed land, insists he acquired it legally through the Sacco board which he says has powers to sell the land. Kyamuhondeire says he is not threatened by the investigation.
