Rtd Col. Dick Lutaaya has been remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities and the theft of close to an acre piece of land situated at Makindye, a suburb in Kampala.
Lutaaya was arrested by the Uganda Police Force along the main Kampala road on Monday as he went on with his daily chores. Lutaaya’s arrest came after the retired Uganda People’s Defense Forces soldier severally refused to appear before court to answer similar charges related to fraud.
Last year, the family of the Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya, together with businessman Leonard Rwigyema reported a case of malicious damage of property vide SD Reference 39/01/07/2023, accusing Rtd Col. Lutaaya and other accomplices who included Topista Nakaye, Chrizestome Wakayamba, among others, of demolishing and destroying several properties on the said piece of land.
Among the demolished items included kiosks that were being operated by businessman Leonard Rwigyema, his office and a washing bay. The family of the late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya are said to have been the rightful owners of the said land which at the time of the demolition, had been rented out to Rwigyema to carry on the businesses.
Despite investigations being completed and a file being submitted to the Resident State Attorney in Makindye, Lutaaya never appeared in court even after being summoned to appear before Makindye Grade One Magistrate, His Worship, John Robert Okipi.
The failure by Rtd Col. Lutaaya to appear before court prompted the Magistrate to issue a warrant of arrest upon which was used to locate and arrest the errant retired officer.
BACKGROUND
The family of Late Sheikh Muhammad acquired the land in 1990, situated on Makindye Namasoole Rd near calendar Guest house. RTD Col Lutaaya also has land opposite that of the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya. Both Lutaaya and the family were all bibanja holders on the land belonging to Buganda Kingdom.
Rtd Col. Lutaaya persuaded the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya to sell their land to him, an inquest which was refused. Rtd. Col. Lutaaya went to Buganda Land board and acquired “kyappa mungalo” (title) from Mengo in 2021 and encroached on land of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya with aim of stealing it. He also initiated a number of illegal activities on the same land.
After acquiring the title in his names, Col Lutaaya transferred the title in the names of his caretaker Nakaayi Teopista and started working behind the doors to Chase away the family of Late Sheikh Muhammad Bukenya who were the sitting tenants but had been rented it out commercially to businessman Leonard Rwigyema.
This ongoing land dispute serves a stark reminder of the challenges faced by land owners in Uganda and the need for a fair and transparent legal system to resolve such conflicts.
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