KAMPALA – Legislators on the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has summoned former Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma, Businessman Amos Nzeeyi, NSSF Managing Director Richard Byarugaba, Lands registrar Sarah Kulata to explain circumstances surrounding the controversial giveaway and sell of Temangalo land.
The select committee was set up recently to investigate the controversial takeover of Asian properties following the expulsion of Indians by former President Idi Amin over complaints that the transfer of their wealth to their mother country risked crashing Uganda’s economy.
The Committee was probing the illegal transfer of 366 acres previously owned by an Indian family based in Canada that recently made fresh claims of ownership of the land that is was reportedly sold off by Nzeeyi and former premier Amama Mbabazi to the National Social Security Fund in 2008.
Moosa told the Committee that his family obtained the land in 1924 before being expelled by President Idi Amin in 1972 and they were shocked to learn of Mbabazi and Nzeeyi’s claims to the land saying the contested land was illegally transferred to the names of Nzeeyi under unclear circumstances and there is need for Parliament to probe how Nzeeyi got his hands on the land to allow the rightful family members reposes their land.
Further, the committee learnt that the although the lease held by the Indians had not expired, unknown individuals cancelled it transferred it without giving the Moosa the chance to renew the lease even after they were issued repossession certificate upon claiming ownership.
Moosa has told the committee that the family has gone ahead to put caveat the land that Nzeeyi sold to NSSF until the matter has been disposed by the relevant government agencies including the Land probe commission, Parliament among others.
Ibrahim Kasozi, Committee Chairperson said there is need for the Committee to hear from the accused before taking a decision on the matter.
