Kyambogo land leased to investor, MPs told

Legislators on the Committee on Education and Sports have been shocked to learn that Uganda Land Commission has leased part of Kyambogo University land to a private Indian investor without the knowledge of the university administration.

The legislators say the decision to lease out Kyambogo University land will not only block the ongoing developments of the University but also the expansion of the second biggest university in Uganda.

Three public universities, including Mountain of the Moon University in Fort portal, Lira University and Kyambogo University appeared before the Education Committee during the presentation of their sector's Ministerial Policy Statements and Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/25

The three universities told the legislators that the budget cuts for the next financial year will affect their operations ranging from development, research breakthrough, remittance of lunch allowances and salaries for part time lectures among other.

Away from this, the committee was shocked to learn that Uganda Land Commission has leased part of the Kyambogo University land to a private Indian investor without the knowledge of the university.

The acting University Secretary, Arthur Katongole, told the MPs that the lease was done without the knowledge of the University.

" I have received a brief on my phone from the Chief of Security at the University informing me how a big chuck of land of Kyambogo University was leased to a certain private Indian investor by the Uganda Land Commission in 2018," Katongole said.

This comes at a time when the University is battling with hundreds of encroachers on the Public University Land.

Mr John Twesigye, chairperson of the Committee, said they have received a report of fluctuating number of squatters on the university land.

"Whey reported to us that the issue of squatters is killing them because they [the squatters] are grabbing the land," Twesigye said.

He said the committees was taken aback to find out that the Uganda Land Commission has leased the land moreover to an Indian and they are not aware if he is an investor or not.

The cadastral boundary of Kyambogo University land as described by plot M902 overlaps into the Kisosonkole Private Mailo Estate by 46.4 hectares.