By Spy Uganda
Kampala: A section of senior officers at Makerere University could find themselves in jail soon for fraudulently selling University property in Kololo at over USD7m, approximately Shs 25.7Bn.
It is alleged that the property holden on LRV4055 Folio 15 was sold to a yet to be idenitified city businessman and currently it is under development by Universal Multipurpose Enterprises (U) Ltd.
As a result of the fraudulent sale, a group of Makerere university staff have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to intervene int the matter, such that whoever was involved in the corrupt transaction can be brought to account for their deeds.
The petition is an 83-page document authored by concerned Makerere University academic and administrative staff titled “Systemic & Systematic Corruption, Lawlessness & Impunity at Makerere University” was authored by the staff in August this year.”
According to the document, Makerere University owned 3.97 acres of land on plot 34, 36 and 40 on Prince Charles Drive in Kololo among other plots in Kololo.
The land extended to Kololo hill lane and had pillars with the official Makerere University colors (Red/Black/Green) at the four corners.
Sources reveal that plots 34A and 36A on Prince Charles Drive which Makerere University has owned since 1962 was first leased to Janice Amayo and later transferred to Nassour Rahez by the Lands Ministry.
The said transaction took place on December 24 in 2009, just a day after the university closed for Christmas holidays.
Nassour Ramez allegedly bought the land from one Janice Amayo at USD3.5 million (Shs8B) to erect a five-star hotel, which never was.
However, the concerned staff, contend that the land was partitioned into three plots/titles and sold by the ‘mafia’ at MUK around 2017.
They also say that although three pillars were removed, one is still in place even though the colors have faded. They say the land on the upper side (Kololo Hill lane) is currently being developed by Universal Multipurpose Enterprises (U) Ltd.
It has been establsihed that in early 2018, Professor Eria Hisali, the Principal College of Business and Management Sciences led a team to investigate the land matter but his report is yet to be presented to Senate or made public.
The petitioners say in addition to hiding the report, it has never been discussed by the University Council. The document alleges that ENSAfrica Advocates brokered the land transaction.
The petitioners accuse Thomas Tayebwa, the Ruhinda North Member of Parliament, Bruce Balaba Kabaasa, the chairperson of the Committee of Finance, Planning and Investment of the governing council, Eng. Dr. Wana Etyem, the former Makerere University Council chairperson and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe of having knowledge about the shday deal.
The investigators also learnt that prior to the fraudulent sale, the land had changed ownership into the hands of Kampala Capital City Council (KCCA), although this was also fraudulently done and hence illegal.
The investigators also established that at the junction between Prince Charles Drive and York Avenue (Kololo), a piece of land was lost by the University under unclear circumstances.
A two-storeyed private residential house was constructed there by yet to be identified businessman.
However, efforts to reach Phillip Karugaba, the head of ENSAfrica couldn’t be reached for a comment to establish their alleged involvement in the land sale because his known telephone lines weren’t available.
But Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere Vice Chancellor said that there is a group of people in Makerere trying to fight his administration, and coming up up with all senseless and baseless accusations without facts but their intent is to malign him .
“I can understand the frustration of those trying to fight me. Because they are failing everywhere. I can understand their frustration. So they will cling on anything. I am not a signatory to any papers regarding Makerere university land. I have not signed anywhere on those papers,” Professor Nawangwe said.
He explained that it was during the reign of Professor Venansius Baryamureeba as vice chancellor that the university established the fraudulent takeover of the university land and that his office is indeed aware of the fraudulent give away of the Kololo land on a 49 year lease.
