NAKASONGOLA – The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), working in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force in Nakasongola and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), has arraigned five members of a local land allocation committee on multiple charges including conspiracy to defraud, assault causing grievous harm, malicious damage to property, and unlawful confinement.
The accused – Kasibante Robert, Kawa Robert, Musisi Julius, Gawera Ronald, and Semata Vincent – appeared before court and were remanded until April 14, 2026. Other members of the committee remain at large, according to prosecution.
According to court documents, the accused, acting as members of the Land Allocation Committee, allegedly embarked on subdividing and distributing land within the Kyarubanga Forest Reserve prior to its degazettement. This action, prosecutors say, was in direct contravention of His Excellency the President’s directive regarding the degazettement process of the said forest reserve.
It is alleged that the committee members forcefully took possession of land already occupied by bona fide sitting tenants and proceeded to allocate the same land to themselves and other individuals, including persons who are not residents of Nakasongola District.
The actions of the committee triggered serious land disputes, multiple assaults, and widespread malicious damage to property across the affected communities.
Furthermore, investigators allege that some members of the committee fraudulently obtained money from unsuspecting members of the public under the pretext of allocating them land. In several documented instances, the promised land was never allocated, and the money was never refunded.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit’s intervention followed a direct directive from His Excellency the President to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and gross irregularities by the Land Allocation Committee.
“Investigations into the matter are still ongoing,” a brief from the joint taskforce confirmed. Authorities have urged any members of the public who were defrauded, assaulted, or unlawfully evicted from land within the Kyarubanga Forest Reserve area to come forward and report to the nearest police station or SH-ACU field office.
The five accused were denied bail and remanded to custody until April 14, 2026, when the case is set for further mention. The ODPP has indicated that additional charges may be filed as investigations continue and more victims come forward.
The joint operation reinforces the government’s commitment to protecting lawful land owners, preserving forest reserve integrity, and holding accountable individuals who exploit land allocation processes for personal gain.
