A complex real estate dispute over Naguru-Nakawa land has emerged, involving OPEC Prime Properties and businessman Karim Somani.
The controversy centers on allegations that the Ugandan government disregarded a legally binding settlement agreement connected to the Naguru-Nakawa Satellite Town project.
Prince Andrew Tendo, a consultant for Acacia Properties Africa Limited, revealed during a recent interview that government actions have caused significant distress among third-party beneficiaries who invested in the project.
Tendo explained that after the government abruptly terminated the project, OPEC Prime Properties and the government reached a settlement intended to return properties to original beneficiaries and avoid litigation.
However, Tendo alleges that government agencies instead sold these properties to individuals, including Karim Somani, creating conflicting titles.
“The government agencies ignored the settlement agreement and proceeded to allocate the third-party properties to their own beneficiaries. As a result, there are illegal titles now being held by Karim Somani, which complicates matters further,” Tendo said.
According to Tendo, the situation has escalated to legal battles. OPEC Prime Properties is seeking court orders to cancel the titles held by Somani in favor of the original beneficiaries.
The High Court has ruled in favor of OPEC Prime Properties, affirming that the properties mentioned in the settlement should be returned to their rightful owners.
“The titles Karim Somani is holding are illegal titles. The lawful way to address this is to reinstate the properties to the original beneficiaries,” Tendo stated.
Despite the court ruling, tensions persist. Tendo highlighted ongoing harassment faced by occupants of the properties, as Somani reportedly attempts to evict tenants.
The community has called for justice, and allegations of corruption have emerged, raising questions about the legality of the property transactions and government accountability.
This developing story underscores ongoing concerns over property rights and governance in Uganda. Updates will follow as the situation evolves.