The Deputy Inspector General of Government (IGG), Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, has issued an eviction order for tenants occupying a disputed building located within the Luwero Taxi Park.
The three-room commercial structure, reportedly built by local businessman Ronald Luyinda, alias “Kalaso,” is alleged to have been constructed illegally on a public emergency corridor, without the required permits.
The building, which occupies public land belonging to Luwero Town Council, was erected without a building permit or occupancy certificate.
During a meeting at the Luwero district headquarters to address the legality of Luyinda’s acquisition of the land, the businessman made accusations against local officials, alleging that he had been coerced into paying more than 15 million shillings in bribes to proceed with the construction.
“They demanded a bribe of over 15 million shillings from me. After making the payment, I continued with the construction without any interference,” Luyinda claimed, naming councillors Rebecca Namale, Musah Kakande, and Robert Okello as the officials involved in soliciting the bribe to approve the project.
The accused councillors, who were present at the meeting, firmly denied the allegations. “I did not receive any money from him,” Councillor Robert Okello said, responding to claims that he received the largest portion of the alleged bribe.
Okello explained that he and other councillors had visited the construction site earlier and raised concerns with local authorities. However, no action was taken until after the building was completed.
Luwero Town Council Mayor, John Buwembo, also expressed his frustration over the corruption claims tied to the incident.
“This confusion led Luyinda to make a significant mistake,” Buwembo said. Previously, the former Town Clerk had directed law enforcement officer Mustafa Lubega to seal off the building after receiving an order from the IGG to evict the tenants and shut down the structure for safety inspections.
However, the mayor later lifted the seal, citing the need to prioritise the public’s interest.
Local leaders have raised concerns over the building’s safety, fearing that it could pose risks to those using it. Deputy IGG Muhairwe has now instructed the police to carry out an immediate inspection to assess the building’s structural integrity, which will determine whether it should be demolished.
“If the building is deemed unsafe, we will take the necessary actions to protect the lives of the people,” Muhairwe asserted.