Buganda Kingdom minister cited in a land grabbing scandal

Highlights

• The land in contention is part of property sieved from the expelled Asians during President Idi Amin’s regime.

• The Buganda Kingdom Minister claims it was allocated to him by State House.

• Court ruled in 1991 that the land belongs to Firdoshali Madatali Keshwani Habib and Dolathanu Madatali Habib

KAMPALA OCTOBER 13, 2023: Africa House building,  a property situated on plot 42 Kampala Road, which is being claimed by Owek. Israel Mayengo, a former Minister in the Buganda government seems to have been grabbed from the Indians who were expelled from Uganda during the Amin regime.

Court documents seem by the Scribe shows that Mayengo could have obtained this prime property through yet to be verified means.

Owek. Mayengo is currently the director of MKM Corporation after serviving as Buganda kingdom’s miister without Portfolio.

Although Myengo claims that the property was allocated to him by  President Museveni through a presidential  directi

A court case withdrawn by Mayengo regarding the property in contention

ve of 9th August 2023,  Firdoshali Madatali Keshwani Habib and Dolathanu Madatali Habib, clarifies that the property was seized from them in 1972 when then President Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda.

However, according to Firdoshali Madatali Keshwani Habib and Dolathanu Madatali Habib, the property was seized in 1972 when then President of Uganda Idi Amin expelled Asians from Uganda.

“When the current government came into power, the Custodian Board took over the property but they never registered the title of the Africa House. We came back to Uganda in 1990 and were ordered to follow the procedure of reclaiming our property from the Departed Asians’ Property Custodian Board,” Firdoshali said.

Firdoshali adds that they were forced to run to Court 1991 to seek justice after experiencing an unusual  delay in the process. “The Court ruled in our favor and the Custodian Board was ordered to return the property to us” He revealed.

In 1992, the then Executive Secretary of the Departed Asians’ Property Custodian Board, Mr. Alex Joseph Apecu issued a statement to the occupants of Africa House, confirming that the property had been returned to Firdoshali Madatali Keshwani Habib and Dolathanu Madatali Habib, the registered proprietor of the property.

Repossession letter of the land on plot 42 Kampala road that was returned to the asians

“Consequently, the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board is no longer your Landlord, and you are advised to negotiate a new tenancy arrangement with the registered proprietor,” Mr. Apecu said.

The owners further note that they have never received any communication from the Finance Ministry regarding the Presidential Directive and that they have been paying all taxes of the building to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

” In 2020-2021 we were recognised by the Uganda Revenue Authority (KCCA) as some of the best taxpayers that year. Even when Parliament was investigating the property under Custodian Board ours was never investigated because it is a private property,” they said.

In 2021, Owek. Mayengo under his company MKM Corporation ran to court over the issue but on 3 March, 2023, Justice Musa Ssekaana of the High Court dismissed the case with no costs.