KAMPALA – The state minister for lands Persis Namuganza has Tuesday, August 7, told the commission of inquiry into land matters that she was working on orders of president Yoweri Museveni.
Namuganza who was being grilled before the commission over a three Square mile land in Mubende testified that she received directives from the president after residents petitioned over on illegal eviction.
Namuganza was summoned by the commission’s chairperson lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire on 31st July to explain her alleged connivance with a one Milly Naava Namutebi and other District authorities in Mubende to evict over 350 families.
Petitioners accused the minister of brokering the government purchase of land which is under investigations.
However, Namuganza has also denied the accusations and testified that they wanted to buy disputed land under land fund scheme to have the community settle and get full rights on it.
The minister also said that she could not defy president’s directives who is also the appointing authority of the land commission.
Namuganza was summoned on allegations that she led a delegation to State House after she allegedly deceived the said families that President Museveni was going to compensate them.
Also read: Land probe committee summons Minister Namuganza over land grabbing
She also has denied the payment of Shs4 billion saying that “no one can be paid in Statehouse.”
It is alleged that Namuganza in the company of woman Member of parliament for Mubende district Benny Bugembe and a one Naava mobilized and led the group to State House to cause compensation on a land under investigations.
The disputed land includes villages of Nakasagazi, Kibalagazi, Kibalagazi, Kakakanembe, Bukyamuzi, Kisombe and Mulanda among others.
