FINALLY! State House Swings Into Action To Save Ssekandi’s Land, Masaka Lands Boss Netted!

By Swift Reporter

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), working with Uganda Police, yesterday arrested a senior lands officer in Masaka over allegations of widespread fraud in the issuance of land titles across the Greater Masaka sub-region.

Colbert Tamale Zziwa, a Senior Land Officer at the Masaka Ministry Zonal Office, was arrested on Wednesday evening following investigations into alleged irregularities in land transactions involving public and privately owned land.

According to SH-ACU, Zziwa is accused of playing a key role in the alleged issuance of more than 265 illegal land titles, some of which are said to have been created on Central Forest Reserve land and private property.

Investigators further allege that he worked with other land officials and individuals involved in land grabbing to facilitate fraudulent transactions and the creation of questionable titles.

One of the cases being investigated involves land belonging to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka.

According to the anti-corruption authorities, Ssekandi’s property, which originally measured about 83 acres, was allegedly reduced to 34 acres before a fraudulent title was created and the land divided into several plots.

Zziwa is also accused of obtaining money from hundreds of residents in Sembabule by allegedly claiming that he could help them secure free land titles.

The allegations relate to a government-supported programme under which the Ministry of Lands facilitates free titling for selected beneficiaries, particularly residents facing eviction threats arising from land disputes.

SH-ACU said investigations are still underway and Zziwa will be taken to court once they are completed.

The possible charges include abuse of office, fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title, conspiracy to commit a felony and forgery.

Authorities have appealed to residents of Greater Masaka who may have information or complaints concerning the officer to report to Masaka Police Station or contact the anti-corruption authorities through the designated toll-free line.

The arrest comes amid a wider crackdown on alleged corruption within land administration, with authorities increasingly investigating claims of illegal titling, land grabbing and manipulation of land records.

Meanwhile, the crackdown has also extended to neighbouring Ssembabule, where another senior lands official has been charged over alleged corruption in the administration of a government-supported land titling programme.

Emmanuel Champion Kananura, the Senior Land Management Officer for Ssembabule District, was arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court and remanded to prison until August 17, 2026.

Kananura faces charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, corruption and obtaining money by false pretence.

Prosecution alleges that between August 2024 and August 2026, Kananura collected between Shs1.5 million and Shs6 million from land applicants, despite the programme being subsidised by the government to reduce the cost of obtaining land titles.

According to the prosecution, the alleged collections accumulated to nearly Shs1 billion.

The case reportedly came to light during Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s Expose the Corrupt campaign in Ssembabule, where residents raised complaints about alleged payments demanded during the land titling process.

Authorities say investigations into the wider land-related corruption allegations remain ongoing, with further action expected.

Both suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court.