A senior lands officer in Masaka has been arrested over allegations of issuing illegal land titles and defrauding residents in Greater Masaka.
Zziwa Colbert Tamale, the Senior Land Officer at the Masaka Ministry Zonal Office, was arrested on Wednesday evening by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with Uganda Police.
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit, Zziwa is accused of involvement in land fraud, including the alleged issuance of more than 265 illegal titles on Central Forest Reserve and private land in Greater Masaka.
He is also accused of conniving with other lands officials to facilitate fraudulent land transactions.
Investigators allege that Zziwa and others fraudulently created a title on land belonging to former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in Kyanamukaaka, Masaka District.
The land, which originally measured 83 acres, was allegedly reduced to 34 acres before being partitioned into several plots.
Zziwa is further accused of allegedly extorting money from hundreds of residents in Sembabule under the guise of facilitating free land titling.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said the alleged extortion occurred 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 in court once investigations are complete.
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 urged residents of Greater Masaka with complaints against Zziwa to report to Masaka Police Station.
