Newly sworn-in village chairpersons in Wakiso District have been warned against colluding with land grabbers and wealthy individuals to facilitate illegal land transactions, with authorities threatening to arrest those who misuse official stamps.
The village leaders have also been told to stop looking at an official stamp as a source of income and instead find legitimate employment to support themselves.
Wakiso Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Ms Angel Namulimbe, said her office continues to receive numerous complaints related to fraud and land grabbing, many of which allegedly involve village leaders.
“Our office is always full of cases of fraud and land grabbing, and many of these cases involve LC leaders,” she said.
She warned that village leaders found colluding with land grabbers would be arrested.
The RDC made the remarks on Thursday while presiding over the swearing-in and commissioning of village chairpersons and the handing over of official stamps to them in Wakiso Town Council.
Eight of the 13 village chairpersons in the town council and one of the six LC II leaders in the area were sworn in and issued with official stamps.
Ms Namulimbe said she would take firm action against any leader found using the stamp improperly.
Wakiso Town Council Chairperson, Mr Fredson Mukalazi Kasiwukira, accused some village leaders of working with wealthy individuals to frustrate residents and facilitate questionable land transactions.
He warned the leaders against allowing their offices to be used by people seeking to deprive residents of their land.
"Security has been alerted. In case you are reported misusing the stamp, we shall recall it," he warned.
He also urged village chairpersons to be their eyes on the ground to ensure locals participate actively in all the ongoing government programmes.
"Parish Development Model has been extended up to the village level with LC 1s responsible for identifying prospective beneficiaries," he said.
Mr Atanansio Musambwa, the Wakiso District vice chairperson and district representative for the area, urged the sworn-in leaders to put the interests of residents first and avoid engaging in practices that could undermine public trust.
He also asked them to pay greater attention to children and other vulnerable residents in their villages.
Wakiso Town Council Clerk, Mr Jimmy Mabanja, while handing over the stamps and other tools of authority to the leaders, reminded them that the items are official tools meant to support the enforcement of laws and proper administration.
He warned the leaders against using the stamps for personal gain or authorising transactions that do not meet the required legal procedures.
The village chairpersons pledged to exercise greater caution in the use of the stamps and other official materials entrusted to them.
Led by Mr Twaibu Kafuuma, the chairperson for Kaasangombe Cell, chairpersons also raised their concerns to the town council authorities, including enhancing their pay from Shs10,000 to Shs1m a month.
They also asked for identity cards, noting that they find it hard to identify themselves in case of community events.
"For example, during the National Cleaning Day, some chairpersons are beaten up by security officers because they cannot identify themselves," Mr Kafuuma said.
