Muhamad Buwule Kasasa, an 87year old, has appeared before the land commission inquiry to respond to allegations by Buganda Prince Wasajja that he fraudulently acquired his father’s land, the late Kabaka Fredrick Mutesa.
However, before defending himself, the elderly witness demanded for an apology from Prince Wasajja for tarnishing his name in the press yet he has held valid titles for the land in Mutungo for 40 years.
VIDEO: Prince Wasajja goes to land probe to reclaim Kabaka Mutesa land
On the stand, Prince Wasajja explained that his father Sir Edward Frederick Mutesa, acquired the said land block 397 Mutungo in 1946 and had it fully registered in his names as a private estate. Wassaja alleged that the 640 acres however became a target of land grabbers in 1967, when the then Chief Justice and DP president Benecdicto Kiwanuka spearheaded the efforts to take the land.
Prince Wasajja went on to claim that Benedicto Kiwanuka illegally registered the land in the names of Kwemalamala Kintu, then transferred it into the names of his company Victoria Investments and then into his names. However, after his death in 1972 the land was again unscrupulously transferred into the names of a one Dr. Mohamed Buwule Kasasa.
When it came down to explaining how he had acquired the land, Dr Kasasa often turned to his lawyer to explain to him the questions tabled by the commission. He said he had acquired the 60 land titles from Lake View Properties which had become indebted and sold to him.
He did not have any documentation to prove he had paid 1 million shillings to Lake View to share with the commission.
He said that a lawyer had been responsible for the transfer of land titles and signatures and he had remained at his shop on Kampala road before withdrawing the money from a bank.
The commissioners challenged Dr Buwale to explain how he had acquired the land from a company that came into existence only in 1968 yet it claimed to own the land since 1946.
Led by Justice Catherine Bamugemereire, Dr Kasasa was asked if he was aware that he was sold property by a company that two days before had to announce its closure for non performance in 1978.
But Dr Kisasa argued that even if the company was winding up, that did not mean it could not sell property in its possession.
He explained the varying dates on the purchase of the land to the inconsistency in land registration back in the 1970s and 1980s where the date of survey was indicated as the date of acquisition.
Kasasa in 2000 went to the registry and reported a case of lost of titles. He requested a special title for the land.
The title that he received did not capture the transfer of land from Lake View Properties Ltd to him. He insisted that though the 60 titles have since been sub-divided into smaller plots, he is the bonafide land owner.
