Summary:

• The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) reports that individuals in Lira City, Uganda, are voluntarily surrendering fraudulently obtained land titles amid ongoing investigations into corruption.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) has revealed that individuals in Lira City and District are voluntarily surrendering fraudulently obtained land titles.

Initiated in March 2022, the unit’s investigations into land acquisition in Lira City began following the arrest of a senior public servant transporting vital land documents. The subsequent probe uncovered numerous complaints, exposing a range of issues such as the fraudulent sale of public land, illegal titles, and mass evictions. The unit has opened 20 investigation files, resulting in charges against 22 individuals, including politicians and technocrats, some of whom have already been convicted.

Deputy Head of the Unit, Israel Ochwo, disclosed that certain individuals, whose identities remain undisclosed, are now relinquishing land titles, possibly due to the ongoing investigations and legal actions against those involved in fraudulent land dealings.

One prominent case involves Lawrence Okello, a local businessman arrested in December for fraudulently obtaining a land title for a Railways quarter plot in Lira City East Division. Okello and Joel Okwir, the former chairperson of the Railway division area land committee, faced charges in Lira magistrate’s court. However, allegations of bias towards businessmen in the investigations were vehemently denied by the SH-ACU.

Israel Ochwo clarified that these allegations lacked evidential support, urging implicated businessmen to provide evidence and become state witnesses, especially if they were misled by technocrats.

In response to the Lira situation, lead detective Sowede Mohammed called on individuals with evidence to step forward and assist ongoing investigations. Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole emphasized that the fight against corruption should be a collective commitment by all Ugandans and not be politicized.