Prime
Court halts sale of Mutesa land to government
What you need to know:
- The land in question was then sold several times with Dr Kasasa being the last buyer and he was in the process of selling part of it to NWSC when the administrators of the late Mutesa II estate petitioned court.
Kampala. The Land Division of the High Court has halted the sale of prime land allegedly belonging to the beneficiaries of the late Sir Edward Mutesa II to National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) until the main case is heard and determined.
The temporary order regarding the sale of Mutesa’s land was issued on October 19 and restrains the Attorney General and Dr Muhamod Buwule Kasasa and his agents who have interest in the said land.
Extension
The same order was on October 30 extended to November 22 when the main case will be heard.
The land in question is in Mutungo and Luzira in Nakawa Division, Kampala. A number of government projects such as the Southern Bypass, Standard Gauge Railway have been designated to pass through the land which measures 0.4400 hectares.
“A provisional order is hereby issued against the first respondent (Dr Kasasa), his successors, agents, assignees, servants or workers and/or anyone else claiming for and or on their behalf restraining, prohibiting, stopping and/or preventing him from claiming any compensation/payments from National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda National Roads Authority, Standard Gauge Railway, and any other government institution or agency,” reads the court order issued by Assistant Registrar, Justine Atukwasa.
When contacted, Mr Sam Apedel, the spokesperson of NWSC, said they were aware of the court injunction and they would abide by it.
“We are aware of the legal injunction. Our interest in the land is because of the water reservoirs there which are part of the Kampala supply network. Our interest is to acquire the land in public interest to help us serve the public,” Mr Apedel explained by telephone yesterday.
He continued: “We will not interfere with the court process as we will let it run its course and will deal with the ultimate owner of the land. Dr Kasasa had given us an offer to buy it.”
Evidence
According to the court documents, the land on Block 237 was registered in 1946 in the names of Sir Edward Mutesa II, the then king of Buganda who was exiled in 1966 after the army attacked his palace at Lubiri following a fallout with the central government.
Documents from the ministry of Lands show that the said land was sold on June 13, 1968 by Nnalinnya Victoria Mpologoma, a sister to Mutesa II.
At the time, Mutesa II was in exile in Britain and did not approve the sale of the said land.
The land in question was then sold several times with Dr Kasasa being the last buyer and he was in the process of selling part of it to NWSC when the administrators of the late Mutesa II estate petitioned court.
Princess Dorothy Nassolo and Prince David Wasajja, at one time placed caveats on various plots to stop the sale.
