The Masaka ad hoc land committee has ordered police to arrest and prosecute Rev. Fr. Joseph Kaita, the district land board chairperson for alleged corruption, a day after he failed to answer queries related to the illegal allocation of 122 plots of land in the town.
On Monday, Fr. Kaita appeared before the committee for questioning but after seven hours of questioning at Golf Lane Hotel, he reportedly refused to answer questions asked by five probe committee members.
Kibra Ntensibe, the Probe Committee Secretary says they have ordered police to arrest and prosecute Fr. Joseph Kaita for alleged corruption after getting more evidence against him.
Ntensibe says Fr. Kaita failed to explain circumstances under which he received 7million shillings from Bannakalooli Brothers to extend their lease offer for plot 26 on Grant Street.
According to the pay cheque from Orient Bank, Fr. Kaita received the money in 2008 and the probe committee members now say the money was to extend a lease offer which had expired.
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Noah Sserunjogi, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson says police has already taken over investigations into Masaka land board activities. He says detectives have already recorded statements from Fr. Kaita and a criminal file against him has been opened.
According to Sserunjogi, police is scrutinizing the cheque details before more action is taken against the land board chairman.
Fr Kaita refused to speak about the corruption allegations against him when URN contacted him at Golf Lane Hotel. He also declined to speak about how he received seven million shillings from Bannakalooli Brothers saying he will call a news conference.
Achilles Mawanda, the Probe Committee Chairperson says after meeting Fr. Kaita, they are almost through with investigations. The committee is expected to release its report in two weeks during an extra ordinary Masaka district council session which will decide the next course of action.
