Deputy governor of Bank of Uganda (BOU) Louis Kasekende has been summoned by Masaka Magistrate’s court for his alleged involvement in encroachment on Masaka Golf Course land.
BOU acquired two acres of the said land over 10 years ago, to construct a currency centre in Masaka. But local leaders, together with the Golf Union are opposed to the acquisition and are accusing the Central Bank of encroaching on the land, located between Tropic Inn Hotel, Golf Lane Hotel and DFCU bank in Masaka.
Early this week, South Buganda Anti-Corruption Organisation dragged Kasekende to court contending that BOU did not follow proper procedures before acquiring the land in question. They accuse Kasekende of corruption and disregarding procurement guidelines.
Former Masaka mayor Charles Kasibante Kibabilire, who is now the deputy executive director of South Buganda Anti-Corruption Organisation, accuses Kasekende of colluding to commit corruption during procurement of the land in question. He further demands that construction of the multi-billion-currency centre be suspended.
Court has ordered Kasekende to appear in court on January 19 to defend himself. However, this court case against Kasekende has angered some leaders led by Godfrey Kayemba, the mayor, who accuses Jude Mbabaali, the Masaka LCV chairman of meddling in the municipality affairs.
Kayemba says all proper procedures were followed during the transaction and that the municipality stands to lose out if the project is suspended.
Paul Muwanga, a golfer from Masaka says he personally approached Kasekende to take the project to Masaka because the golf course land was lying idle. Muwanga, the former indoor captain of Masaka golf club says only a fraction of two acres and not the entire golf course was allocated to BOU.
“In Masaka we can’t afford not to accept a development of Shs 50 billion [currency centre]. When we talk of developing Masaka that is the starting point. We have all the leadership who should come together to harmonise the situation, formalise whatever went wrong in the purchase of [the] land.
But please, we should keep the development going on and then we see how we develop the remaining area and keep it as a golf facility. It is the best I can say. Whoever did it [dragging Kasekende to court], they did it out of ignorance because the DG (deputy governor) was just helping. He has nothing to do with all these things. He doesn’t work in municipal council, we’re the ones who went to him and pleaded that he can divert the development [of the currency centre] which was actually going to Jinja to Masaka,” said Muwanga.
In a press release this week, Bank of Uganda clarified that the land on which the currency centre is being constructed was acquired in a proper manner.