By URN
Security in Kikuube is investigating several surveyors attached to MESCIOGLU Engineering Company Limited for extortion.
The government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in August this year, contracted the Turkish company to undertake land surveying and registration in Kikuube district.
The contractor was tasked with surveying land in the various sub-counties in the district where the government intends to issue land titles to locals at a subsidized cost.   The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is set to avail 20,000 land titles to Kikuube residents at a reduced cost to combat the escalating land-grabbing cases in the district.
The project is funded by the World Bank and will benefit residents in the sub-counties of Kizirafumbi, Bugambe, Buhimba, Kyangwali, Kabwoya and Kikuube town.
The titles will be availed to the local people at reduced cost not exceeding 85,000 shillings under the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) being implemented by the Ministry of Lands.
Currently, surveyors are in the district surveying people’s land which will lead to the acquisition of the land titles.
However, alleged extortion has marred the entire land registration exercise in the district.
Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner-RDC says several residents have approached his office accusing the surveyors undertaking the land registration for gross extortion.
He says the surveyors are conniving with village chairpersons to extort between 20,000 and 50,000 from those intending to register their land something he says is illegal.
Leaders in the district have equally raised concerns about the massive extortion involved in the land registration exercise.
Stephen Aseera Itaza, the Buhaguzi East County Member of Parliament says, it is unfortunate that the surveyors have turned the exercise into money money-making venture stating that, many residents have complained to him.
Vincent Alpha Opio, the Kikuube LCV Vice Chairperson says the district leadership has scheduled a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Lands and the contractor over the allegations.
Mbabazi Talemwa, a resident of Kyabakenda in Bugambe sub-county wants authorities to immediately prevail over the surveyors stating that, people without money are being denied the land registration exercise.
Richard Kyomuhendo, a resident of Kizirafumbi sub-county says, many people could miss out on the program because of extortion.
A surveyor working with the company speaking to URN on condition of anonymity, tasked the RDC and leaders in the district to produce evidence pinning them for extortion stating that, the allegations being made are meant to destroy their image and integrity before the public.
