Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Unit working hand-in-hand with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) dragged a group of senior government officials and local leaders before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Charged for attempt to steal over 600 acres of land belonging to one of Uganda’s most respected conglomerates, the Madhvani Group by fraudulently creating overlapping land titles.
Leading the list of the accused is none other than Kakooza Jasper, the Acting Commissioner of Mapping and Surveys at the Ministry of Lands. Joining him are nine others, including district officials, a village chairperson, security guards, a boda boda rider and a businessman.
Here’s the full list:
- Kakooza Jasper – Acting Commissioner, Mapping and Surveys.
- Bassajjangabo Hakim – Senior Assistant Secretary, Kabulasooke, Gomba District.
- Siwuliliza Andrew Sserunkuma – LC1 Chairman, Mpogo Village.
- Nakanwagi Gladys – Former Secretary, Gomba District Land Board.
- Hajju Kayongo Badru Ismail – Former Chairperson, Gomba District Land Board.
- Nuwahereza Allan Katakanya – Businessman.
- Mudenyi Gerald and Nabimanya David – Security Guards.
- Ssenoga Abdu – Casual Labourer.
- Kisenyi Harunah – Boda Boda Rider.
Warrants of arrest have also been issued for others still at large, including:
- Sitenda Nicodemus Mugalu – Deputy RDC, Gomba.
- Mugenyi Vincent – Physical Planner.
- Fred Kirenga – Businessman.
According to court documents, the accused fraudulently manipulated a boundary-opening exercise to manufacture fake land titles on top of FRV 60 Folio 4 land originally registered in Madhvani Group’s name back in 1955.
Disguised as a legitimate survey, the operation quickly turned violent. Over 600 acres in Musongole Village, Mpenja Subcounty, Gomba District, were seized. In the process, thriving tea plantations were uprooted and over 540 acres of pristine natural forest were mercilessly destroyed.
The audacity of the operation stunned many state officials, entrusted with protecting public and private property, allegedly conspired with local businessmen, casual workers and even boda boda riders to muscle their way onto Madhvani land.
The accused face a mountain of charges including; abuse of Office, forgery, fraudulent procurement of land titles, forcible entry, forcible detainer, destroying growing plants, conspiracy to commit misdemeanours and felonies
All ten have been remanded until April 30, 2025, as investigations continue to tighten around the web of alleged fraudsters.
The Madhvani Group, one of Uganda’s biggest private investors, has been a pillar of the country’s agricultural and industrial sectors for decades.
For a government that has loudly trumpeted its war on corruption, this case strikes at the very credibility of land governance and the confidence of both local and foreign investors.
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