KAMPALA-UGANDA/NEWSDAY: Tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia has attacked a top city property advisor Francis Matovu aka Bbuto for allegedly being the trigger to an investigation by the Inspector General of Governement (IGG) into a reported dubious land cartel that has been fleecing government of billions of shillings.
The IGG this week confirmed she commenced an investigation against Sudhir and other property moguls who are alleged to connive with officials in Governement ministries especially lands and energy to acquire land titles on government land including swamps and forests especially in areas where key infrastructure is planned.
The men said to be under investigation along with Sudhir include Hasan Basajjabalaba, Ephraim Ntaganda and Godfrey Kirumira
Allegations
President Museveni ordered an investigation into a racket of city tycoons for allegedly fleecing government of billions of money in fake land compensation.
The so called racket is said to collude with Lands Registry in creating fake land titles in wetlands, gazetted forest reserves, lake and river shores and on all public lands, where planned infrastructure like roads, railways and power lines are due for developement. They allegedly get info from governement officials about the impending projects then later get the titles without formal minutes, instruments, URA tax. They are then said to register the land in fictitious names and companies.
Sources within the IGG office indicate that the President has also directed an investigation into all government ministries working in collusion with the racket to steal from government. Investigations are underway against Ministers, Permanent secretaries and officials in the the Ministry of Energy and Mineral development; UETCL; Ministry of lands and Housing; Lands Registry; Ministry of works and Transport; UNRA; Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Finance and Planning
The plots
It is said Ephraim Ntaganda got fake titles on governemnt land, later selling the land to Sudhir who constructed ware houses on the land and rented the same to government only now to be receiving billions of money in Rent.
In another incident a one Beju, Baraj and Ntaganda working with former commissioner lands Registration, Ruth Kulata acquired fake titles on the Luthuli Bugolobi swamp which has now been submitted to Uganda Railways for compesation.
At Kaggwa Bridge Swamp in Munyonyo, it is alleged Ephraim Ntaganda colluded with Ruth Kulata to make a title for the Munyonyo Kaggwa bridge swamp, he submitted to UNRA for compensation for the Kajansi – Munyonyo spur expressway.
Another company, Real Choice alleged owned by Monica and Ephraim, Augustine Rutaganda the trio acquired title for this swamp. It was compesated billions for the Kajjansi Munyonyo spur.
At Busega expressway round about, Ntaganda working with Ruth Kulata acquired title he was compesated billions by UNRA.
Ntaganda has now submitted the residual title to UNRA for compesation for the Busega – Mpigi Express way.
It is also reported Ephraim Ntaganda and Sudhir Ruparelia working with top Ministry of Lands officials got a substitute title for the Naguru estate land initially given to Opec properties. Sudhir and Ntaganda have now subdivided the Naguru land and are selling plots to interested buyers.
Ntaganda, Godfrey Kirumira and Hassan Bassajja Balaba are also said to have acquired titles using fake names and Companies for this swamp. They submitted the titles to UETCL and were compesated 30 Billions.They have now submitted the residual title to UNRA for compesation for the Southern by pass.
Also through a company, Real Choice Ntaganda acquired title for a Kajjansi Forest reserve. They submitted the title to UNRA and were compesated billions for the Enrebbe Expressway.
Fake news, rubbish
Sudhir has described all this as fake news being spread by Bbuto.
On Friday, there was another document against Sudhir which alleged he had slapped Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba and that the minister had blocked him from ever visiting the lands ministry or making telephone calls to her.
“How can Dr ( Sudhir) slap a minister… the other angle to the story is to connect Dr Sudhir to the so-called investigations that’s why our enemies are bringing in Ntaganda,” Sudhir said on Friday.
He added; “Have done personal investigation.. Some land broker called Butto is behind this articles. Was told is having issues with Ntaganda. Francis Matovu Butto is the very idiot who was arrested at Deputy Speaker’s Nakasero residence with a one conman Bigirwa.”
He said that dubious People are creating nonexistent stories.
” The process of allocating Naguru land to Meera, Roko and others was transparent and was handled by ULC. In any case why would I pay anybody for that.? This is rubbish”.
New dossier
A dossier published on Friday alleged that Sudhir had convened a meeting with a former lands Minister and one who is reigning along another businessman to discuss the failing Naguru land project but tempers had allegedly flared causing a minister to be slapped.
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