Journalists have been thrown out of the conference room at Golf Lane Hotel in Masaka as Reverend Father Joseph Kaita, the elusive district land board chairperson was being questioned for alleged illegal land transactions.
On Monday, Fr. Kaita finally agreed to meet Masaka ad hoc committee investigating circumstances under which 122 plots of land were disposed of. Since last year, Fr. Kaita has been snubbing the committee on grounds that it is illegal.
But on Monday, the priest agreed to appear before the committee. He, however, insisted that the meeting be moved from Masaka’s Baroda Building, where several other officials had been questioned from, to Golf Lane Hotel.
As a result, all the five probe committee members travelled to Golf Lane Hotel where they met Fr. Kaita.
But several journalists were asked to go out on grounds that it was not safe for Fr. Kaita to defend himself in front of journalists. This was after Fr. Kaita asked the probe chairperson, Achilles Mawanda, to order journalists out of the board room saying he did not want them to take his pictures.
Fr. Kaita, who was dressed in a short-sleeved white striped shirt, black trousers and open black shoes, explained that his life has been in danger ever since the investigations started. He claimed that many people are threatening to kill him over land issues. He therefore said that journalists should not be allowed to take his photographs as this exposes him to danger.
He pleaded with the committee not to allow journalists to listen to his testimonies claiming that they had black-mailed him with wrong information about land transactions.
As a result, Mawanda asked all the journalists to stay out of the conference room, explaining that although the inquiries are open to the general public, it is his duty to protect Fr. Kaita’s life.
Kibra Ntensibe, the ad hoc committee chairperson tried to block the move but failed after Fr. Kaita threatened to walk out of the committee if the journalists stayed inside.
By the time of filing this report, Fr. Kaita had been grilled for five hours.
Some of the plots whose give away is disputed are Masaka municipal chambers allegedly sold to UPDF director of training, Brig. Silver Kayemba, Budukilo Children’s Home, which was sold to Maj. Kenneth Muhairwe, and Kizungu Municipal plot, which was sold to Brig James Mugira.
Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi was also named in illegal land deals in Masaka. He was also summoned to appear before the ad hoc committee to explain how he acquired Baines Terrace located in Kizungu and Green Space opposite Stanbic Bank off Birch Avenue.
Ssekandi has, however, is yet to appear before the committee due to his busy schedule. The committee now plans to travel to Kampala to meet him in his office, according to Ntensibe.
