By; Ben Musanje
The Land Commission of Inquiry has grilled the Wakiso District Land Board Secretary Dr Joseph Batume(left) for allegedly grabbing and illegally selling government wetlands and forest reserves that seat on about 360 hectares.
Appearing before the commission led by Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire in Kampala, Batume admits that he owns several properties on public and Buganda Land Board lands including that of Nansana where he has Hollyfam hotel.
Batume has served in this office for the about 18 years in Wakiso district.
When quizzed of fraudulently selling Nonve forest reserve to tycoon Haruna Semakula and former Wakiso district chairperson Ian Kyeyune, he owned the mistakes he did during the transfer of the land.
Batume further unveiled his properties in Wakiso saying he owns 11 acres of land in Busiro where he established a farm, 25 decimals of land at Mulawa in Kira municipality and 90 decimals in Namasuba.
However, Bamugemereire tasked him to accept compensating government for illegal selling of public land by providing some of his properties include Holyfam hotel and his home house located at Namasuba.
She further questioned on whether Batume still fits to be serving as the land secretary in that position.
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