The suspects
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I For allegedly indulging in corruption practices, three officials attached to the Kampala Ministry Zonal Office (MZO) and a land dealer have been remanded to prison over the alleged fraudulent acquisition and transfer of a half-acre plot of land in Munyonyo, Kampala, valued at more than Shs600 million.
The four accused, identified as Charles Jude Wasswa, a Principal Assistant Secretary; Ronah Agaba, a Government Valuer; Esther Achom, a Data Entry Clerk; and land dealer John Kizito, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court to answer charges arising from an alleged scheme to fraudulently acquire a special certificate of title and transfer ownership of the property without the registered owner’s knowledge or consent.
They were remanded until October 29, 2026, as investigations continue into the alleged fraud and the possible involvement of additional suspects.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the case followed joint investigations conducted with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The investigations reportedly uncovered a coordinated scheme involving allegedly forged documents, irregular processing of land transactions, bypassing official registry procedures and undervaluation of the property.
The accused face multiple charges, including abuse of office, criminal conspiracy, forgery and fraudulent procurement of a title. The allegations are yet to be proved in court.
Prosecution alleges that in 2024, the accused conspired to irregularly obtain a special certificate of title and facilitate the transfer of land comprised in Kyadondo Block 255, Plot 532, located in Munyonyo.
The property measures approximately 0.2020 hectares, equivalent to half an acre, and has reportedly been registered in the name of James Mulebeke since 2011.
Investigators allege that Kizito initiated the transaction by providing documents intended to facilitate the acquisition of a special certificate of title without Mulebeke’s knowledge or consent.
Achom is accused of receiving the documents and forwarding them to Wasswa for processing, despite the documents allegedly not having been officially received by the zonal office.
“The application for the special certificate of title was irregularly made using forged documents,” the Anti-Corruption Unit said.
Wasswa allegedly abused his position to influence a registrar of titles to issue the special certificate without requiring the registered proprietor to appear for identification. Investigators claim he represented that he knew the applicant, thereby facilitating the processing of the transaction.
The alleged irregularities reportedly extended to the subsequent transfer of ownership to Kizito.
According to investigators, the registrar approved the transfer without requiring Mulebeke to appear in person and without verifying the authenticity of the national identity card or receipts purportedly showing payment of stamp duty and registration fees.
The alleged failure to follow these procedures is central to the prosecution’s case that the property was transferred without the legitimate owner’s participation.
Agaba, the Government Valuer, is accused of undervaluing the land by assessing it at Shs200 million, against what investigators described as a prevailing market value exceeding Shs600 million.
The difference of more than Shs400 million between the alleged valuation and the property’s estimated market value has raised questions about the role of valuation procedures in the suspected transaction.
Investigators further allege that another Government Valuer, Jude Tadeo Mulindwa, processed the transaction without payment of the required stamp duty.
The court issued criminal summons for Mulindwa and a registrar of titles identified in the summons section of the statement as Nabukeera Hamida.
However, the statement elsewhere identifies the registrar allegedly involved in processing the title as Nabukeera Madinah, a discrepancy that requires clarification.
The summons suggest that the investigation is extending beyond the four individuals who have already been arraigned, although the specific roles of the additional suspects remain subject to further proceedings.
The case highlights concerns about the integrity of land registration processes and the potential abuse of public office in transactions involving valuable private property.
The alleged use of forged documents and the bypassing of official procedures, if established in court, would demonstrate how weaknesses in verification and oversight can expose landowners to fraudulent transfers.
The prosecution has not specified the pleas entered by the four accused. They remain subject to the court’s determination of the charges against them.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has indicated that investigations are continuing as authorities seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged transaction and determine whether other individuals participated in the scheme.
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