‘Mafias’ Invade Nakasongola in Land-Grabbing Drive, MPs Order Halt to Property Deals

The Public Accounts Committee on Local Government, chaired by Hon. Betty Nambooze, has directed the Nakasongola District Local Government to suspend and cancel any ongoing deals involving the sale or purchase of district property until proper valuation is conducted.

The directive follows findings in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year 2024/25, which indicated that some district properties had been undervalued.

According to the report, more than 50 square miles of land and other district properties—including tertiary institutions and medical facilities—were valued at approximately Shs84 billion.

Nambooze said the committee was concerned that some former district officials could have colluded with individuals to dispose of government land and other properties without obtaining proper valuations from government valuers.

“I am now saying that whoever bought or sold any government property or land without the government valuer is null and void,” Nambooze said.

She directed district authorities to ensure that no government property is sold or transferred without following the required legal and valuation procedures.

Concerns over absentee district workers

The committee also raised concerns about absenteeism among some employees at Nakasongola District Local Government.

Committee members said they had received information that some district workers were barely reporting to work, with some allegedly attending the office only two days a week and remaining absent for the rest of the week.

The committee said such absenteeism could undermine service delivery and called on district authorities to take action against workers who fail to perform their duties.

Pressure over proposed city status

The committee was also informed of growing pressure on land in Nakasongola following the government’s announcement of plans to elevate the area to city status.

Nambooze said individuals from different parts of the country had reportedly started buying land from residents in anticipation of increased land values once Nakasongola acquires city status.

“I have been told that government is preparing to get a loan of US$10 billion for the development of Nakasongola, but now the pressure has shifted to the district, especially from a few individuals who want to buy big chunks of land and later sell them to government,” she said.

She warned residents to be cautious about selling their land without understanding the potential future value of their property.

The committee also questioned the management of pension payments to retired civil servants in the district.

Nambooze said the district Human Resource Officer and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) were required to explain to the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) how pension funds had been managed.

The committee reportedly found a case involving a pension beneficiary, Joan Ebaju, whose pension payment of Shs37 million was allegedly sent to the district, but she received only Shs17 million.

The discrepancy prompted the district Human Resource Officer and the CAO to record statements with police as investigations into the matter continued.

MPs clash with PDM SACCO leaders

The committee meeting also turned tense as Members of Parliament questioned leaders of Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCOs over the management and recovery of PDM funds.

Leaders representing 68 PDM SACCOs reportedly told the MPs that during campaigns, they were allegedly instructed to distribute PDM funds to whoever was available, even where beneficiaries might not be able to repay the money.

The SACCO leaders reportedly said some beneficiaries had understood the funds as a form of appreciation for supporting the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

The MPs strongly rejected the interpretation, insisting that PDM funds are government loans intended to help households improve their livelihoods and must be repaid according to the programme’s guidelines.

They reminded SACCO leaders that their responsibility was to ensure that eligible residents receive the full Shs1 million and repay it within the stipulated period.

The MPs warned that political considerations should not be allowed to undermine the objectives of the PDM programme or lead to the misuse of public funds.

Nickson Bbale
CH44TV Nakasongola