The Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has raised fresh concerns over the continued occupation and use of part of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) land in Temangalo, Wakiso District, nearly two decades after the property was acquired by the Fund.
The committee, chaired by Muwada Nkunyingi, on Wednesday conducted a physical inspection of the Temangalo property and found cattle grazing and farming activities on a section of the land, despite NSSF having reportedly paid for the property in full.
The disputed portion measures about 50 acres out of the approximately 463.87 acres acquired by NSSF in 2008.
According to Nkunyingi, the committee had earlier been informed that one of the original vendors, businessman Amos Nzeyi, was still occupying and using part of the land, prompting the MPs to visit the site and establish the circumstances surrounding the continued occupation.
“The land looked fenced, and the title was said to be in NSSF’s names, but it was not accessible by NSSF. We therefore stopped by the fence,” Nkunyingi said.
The committee observed cattle grazing and farming activities on the property and said it would seek further explanations from NSSF and the former vendor over why vacant possession has not been secured years after the transaction.
NSSF purchased the land in 2008 from Nzeyi and his associates, including former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, in a transaction reported to have been worth about Shs11 billion.
The acquisition subsequently came under parliamentary scrutiny over questions surrounding the valuation of the property and claims relating to the historical ownership of the Temangalo Tea Estate.
The dispute over possession has persisted despite the passage of nearly two decades.
According to NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota, the Fund issued Nzeyi with an eviction notice in June 2026 after efforts to resolve the matter through a proposed land swap failed.
“Anybody will take you to court for anything, and when they take you to court, you have to let that court process go through. Until it goes through, you can’t do much. We can’t break somebody’s leg as some other people do. We have to be legal as an entity,” Ayota said.
Isaac Ogwang, NSSF Senior Manager for Enforcement and Litigation, told the committee that the Fund had started the process of obtaining a court order to secure access to the disputed portion of the property and enforce its rights over the land.
The original arrangement reportedly allowed Nzeyi to retain about 100 acres temporarily, under an understanding that a land swap would subsequently be effected. However, the proposed replacement parcels were reportedly found unsuitable, leaving the matter unresolved.
The latest inspection has renewed questions over why an institution that paid for the property has, for years, faced difficulties securing vacant possession.
The committee also inspected the NSSF Temangalo Affordable Housing Estate, where construction of thousands of residential units is underway.
NSSF unveiled plans for a mixed-use housing development comprising approximately 3,500 units, including bungalows, townhouses, villas and apartments, with prices starting at about Shs90 million.
However, the project also came under scrutiny as MPs questioned the size, design, quality and workmanship of some of the residential units.
Nkunyingi pressed site managers and project engineers to explain the floor plans and measurements, particularly in relation to the projected selling prices of the houses.
The committee expressed concern that some of the units could be relatively small compared with their expected market prices.
COSASE said it would seek further clarification on the design standards, room sizes, construction quality and value for money of the housing project.
The inspection forms part of the committee’s broader oversight of NSSF operations, investments and major projects.
The Temangalo project has been presented as part of NSSF’s efforts to invest members’ savings in property while expanding access to housing.
Nkunyingi said the committee would continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the occupation of the disputed land and seek explanations from all parties before making its recommendations.
