SHACU to pardon Lira politicians, civil servants willing to surrender titles of public land possessed illegally

By Denis Okello (denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Lira

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has resolved to pardon some civil servants and politicians of Lira district who are willing to surrender titles of public land possessed illegally.

In November 2023, some of the people who were accused of illegal possession of public land wrote to registrar of titles at Lira zonal land office asking for cancellation of their names from titles of land on Ben Emor road and Ireda housing estate.

They include; Apio Santa a local of Wigweng, Barogole ward, Lira City West division who said she had no knowledge about plot 15 Ben Emor road, Atino Sidonia who relinquished a land tittle for plot 23 Ben Emor road, Adong Eunice a local of Awangi A, Iceme who relinquished land tittle for plot 4, Absolom Oteng road.

 The land was registered in her names by her brother Opio George Rashid.

Another person is Caroline Apio who also surrendered plot 4 Ben Emor road.

The senior legal officer at the State House anti-corruption Unit, Samuel Arinaitwe said they have resolved to pardon these people whose names were used by politicians to obtain titles for the land.

Arinaitwe said they will be in Lira next week to follow up on different cases related to illegal possession of land.

Last week, Lira chief magistrate remanded and committed to the anti-corruption court, two civil servants of Lira district accused of abuse of office and connivance to sell public land in Ireda housing estate.

Ocen Joseph Alwong and Opio Francis who worked as senior land management officers of Lira district appeared in court after the State House Anti-corruption Unit launched a probe against them, leading to their arrest.

It is all aged that Ocen Alwong and Opio Francis between 2019 and 2020 abused their office by issuing a land title for plot 19, Ben Emor road (freehold certificate) in the names of Akite Winifred Elizabeth.