Former Kawempe South MP Munyagwa arrested over land wrangles 

Former Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa has been arrested over alleged malicious damage to property. He was picked up by a joint security operation involving the police and detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.

Munyagwa is currently locked up at CPS Kampala along with four other suspects who were arrested on Saturday last week.

Those arrested alongside Munyagwa include; Issa Sekitoreko, a casual labourer from Makindye Central Zone, Paddy Kabuye, the LC one chairperson Bugu Zone, Busabala Ward, Joweria Nakafero, an unemployed resident of Massajja B Cell, and Godfrey Buwembo, a student from Mirimu Zone Ndejje Ward, all residing in Wakiso district. 

The charges against Munyagwa and his co-accused are related to incidents that allegedly occurred between May 26 and June 3, 2023, at Mutungo Cell in Wakiso district.

It is claimed that the suspects unlawfully entered land owned by Dechomai Asset Trust Number Three LCC, an American-owned company, with the intent to annoy the company. Additionally, they are accused of willfully and unlawfully destroying cassava worth Shs 5 million belonging to Janan Opio.

The charges against them also include conspiracy to commit a felony and malicious damage to property. According to sources, the conflict arose when Munyagwa and his co-accused contested the ownership of the land, alleging that they had purchased it as Bibanja holders.

They proceeded to destroy the property and allegedly forged ownership documents. Notably, this is not the first time that Munyagwa has been implicated in land-related controversies.

In a separate incident in 2017, Munyagwa and another individual filed a lawsuit against the National Forestry Authority (NFA) for alleged interference with the land they claimed to own.

The NFA defended itself, asserting that the disputed land, measuring over 20 acres and situated on the lakeshore, belonged to the NFA and was not alienable as it was being managed for the benefit of all Ugandans. In 2019, Munyagwa faced a criminal summons from the Anti-Corruption court on charges of soliciting a gratification of Shs 100 million from Francis Kakumba. 

The prosecution alleged that while serving as the mayor of Kawempe Division in December 2014, Munyagwa sought a bribe in exchange for his influence to secure Kakumba’s appointment as a member of the Kampala City Land Board. It was further claimed that Munyagwa received $20,000 and an additional Shs 4 million from Kakumba for the same purpose. 

The current status of this case remains unknown. In response to fraudulent activities targeting foreign investors, President Yoweri Museveni established the Special State House Anti-Corruption Unit last month, appointing Col Edith Nakalema as its head. The unit is tasked with addressing such cases, aiming to protect the interests of investors.