Uganda’s Vice President, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi (pictured) is set to appear before the Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to explain his hand in the sale of Asians’ land to St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) located in Entebbe.
The COSASE Vice Chairperson, Ibrahim Kasozi revealed plans to summon the VP today during a meeting between a select Committee set up to investigate the sale of departed Asians’ properties and officials of Wakiso Land Board who had been summoned to explain why they sold off land belonging to departed Asians yet the said properties had been entrusted to the Custodian Board.
Gilbert Kasozi, Senior Land Management Officer at Wakiso District Land Board told the Committee that a property at Plot99 Kampala road in Entebbe was registered to Maria Regina Gamana in 1964 and on 29th September 1980, the property was registered in favour of governors of St. Mary’s College Kisubi.
“According to available information, the said Maria gave powers of attorney to Ssekandi and Company Advocates authorizing them to obtain repossession certificates and transferred the same property to St Mary’s Kisubi. The custodian board accordingly issued the repossession certificate directly to St. Mary’s College Kisubi,” he said.
However, Paul Mwiru (Jinja Municipality MP) wondered how it is possible for a property owner to issue powers of attorney when they are still alive even if they don’t frequent the country.
However, Kasozi, Senior Land Management Officer at Wakiso District Land Board said the question can be best answered by the Custodian Board because they are the ones that cleared the transactions.
“If you validate this transaction, they gave powers of attorney to individuals who sold the property on their behalf, it will actually tantalize the whole investigation. Which Ssekandi was this?” Mwiru said.
Kasozi, Senior Land Management Officer at Wakiso District Land Board replied, “The Vice President.”
It was then that COSASE Vice Chairperson Kasozi said, “We shall also need to interact with him (Vice President Ssekandi).”
He added that there is need for the Committee to view the full copy of the file so that MPs can address themselves on the next interface.
