Masaka Land Officer Arrested Over Fraud

MASAKA — The State House Anti-Corruption Agency, working with the Uganda Police Force, has arrested a senior lands officer in Masaka over allegations of illegal titling, forgery and abuse of office in Greater Masaka.

Zziwa Colbert Tamale, the Senior Land Officer at the Masaka Ministry Zonal Office, was arrested last evening following investigations into alleged land fraud and his suspected dealings with land grabbers.

According to the Anti-Corruption Agency, Zziwa is being investigated over the alleged issuance of more than 265 illegal land titles in Greater Masaka, involving Central Forest Reserve land and privately owned land.

Investigators also allege that Zziwa connived with other lands officials to facilitate the illegal acquisition and processing of land titles.

One of the cases under investigation involves land belonging to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka.

The agency alleges that Zziwa, together with others, fraudulently created a title over Ssekandi’s land after the size of the former Vice President’s property was allegedly reduced from 83 acres to 34 acres. The land was subsequently partitioned into several plots, according to the investigators.

Zziwa is also accused of participating in a scheme targeting hundreds of residents in Sembabule, where money was allegedly collected from residents under the false pretext of facilitating free land titling.

The alleged scheme comes amid a government programme through which the Ministry of Lands provides free titles to selected residents, particularly those facing threats of eviction arising from land disputes.

The Anti-Corruption Agency said Zziwa will be arraigned before court once investigations are complete.

Authorities have appealed to residents of Greater Masaka with complaints or information relating to Zziwa’s alleged activities to report to Masaka Police Station or through the toll-free number 0800202500.

The potential charges under consideration include abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony and forgery.

The arrest is part of ongoing efforts by government anti-corruption agencies to investigate alleged land fraud and protect legitimate landowners from illegal dispossession and fraudulent titling.