The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with Police in Masaka, has arrested Colbert Zziwa Tamale, a Senior Land Officer at the Masaka Ministry Zonal Office, over alleged land fraud and illegal titling in Greater Masaka.
Zziwa is accused of issuing more than 265 allegedly illegal land titles on Central Forest Reserve land and private land, as well as allegedly conniving with other land officials to facilitate fraudulent land transactions.
According to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Zziwa is also implicated in the creation of a fraudulent title on land belonging to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka.
Investigators allege that Ssekandi’s land, which originally measured 83 acres, was fraudulently reduced to 34 acres before Zziwa and his alleged accomplices partitioned the land into several plots.
The lands officer is also accused of allegedly extorting money from hundreds of residents in Sembabule by falsely claiming that he would facilitate free land titling for them.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said this was despite the Ministry of Lands providing free titles to selected residents, particularly those facing threats of eviction arising from land disputes.
Zziwa is expected to be arraigned before court once investigations are completed.
The possible charges include abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony and forgery.
The Anti-Corruption Unit has appealed to residents of Greater Masaka who may have complaints against Zziwa to report to Masaka Police Station.
