By Spy Uganda
Commissioner for Land Registration, Mr. Baker Mugaino, has today been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Division of the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Buganda Road, following his highly controversial arrest ordered by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Olive Namisango Kamya, in alleged violation of both a valid court order and Attorney General’s binding legal opinion.
Appearing before Her Worship Nakayzze Racheal, Mugaino was charged with two counts:
- Abuse of office under Section 10 of the Anti-Corruption Act
- Corruption under Sections 2(i) and 26 of the same Act.
He was released on cash bail of UGX 3 million, with three sureties each binding themselves for UGX 50 million (not cash). Mugaino is expected to return to court on June 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
Mugaino’s arrest, executed on June 4, 2025 [yesterday] has ignited legal outrage, as it directly defied an administrative court order issued by Justice Acellam Collins on May 5, 2025, which barred the IGG and Lands Ministry from implementing an interdiction against him.
The court order explicitly restrained “the Attorney General and the IGG, their agents or anyone acting on their authority” from taking any action until a ruling is delivered in the main application.
Moreover, on May 16, 2025, the Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, issued a formal legal opinion stating that Mugaino’s interdiction was “void ab initio” (invalid from the outset), citing Article 172(1)(a) of the 1995 Constitution which reserves disciplinary control over presidential appointees solely to the President of Uganda.
Contempt Of Court
Kamya’s decision to proceed with the arrest, despite these clear legal directives, is now being widely viewed as a case of contempt of court and overreach of powers.
Critics are questioning whether the IGG’s actions are politically or personally motivated, especially considering Kamya’s former role as Minister of Lands, which casts a shadow over her current engagement with the Ministry.
“This situation is now confusing,” said one legal observer. “The man [Mugaino] doesn’t know who to obey—Kamya or the courts. It’s like being told not to cook, not to roast, but to serve a ready meal.”
Sources close to the Ministry of Lands allege that Mugaino’s woes may be tied to his implementation of a new land title management system, reportedly introduced with backing from Arab businessman Prince Maktum and Ugandan tycoon Abu Mukasa.
The system, designed to curb land title forgeries and double titling, is said to be facing stiff resistance from entrenched interests within the so-called “land mafia”, who reportedly view Mugaino as a threat.
With serious concerns about the rule of law, and undue interference in judicial matters, several analysts are now calling on President Museveni to intervene and institute independent investigations into both IGG Kamya’s conduct and the allegations facing Commissioner Mugaino.
