The Chief of Defence Forces Gen. David Muhoozi has appeared before the The Land Commission of Inquiry chaired by the Lady Justice Catherine Bamugemereire.
Gen. Muhoozi led a team of Defence Ministry officials before the probe to lay several complaints of encroachment on a number of pieces of land belonging to the Ministry and the UPDF.
His appearance there was in-camera, meaning the public and press were not allowed to observe the procedure but the army man reveal to TheUgandan that he also briefed the Committee on the circumstances surrounding land in Kaweweta in Nakaseke on which an army barracks sits.
In 2014, land on which the army installation sits measuring 36 square miles was surveyed before being subdivided to give half of it to Turkish investors as directed by President Museveni.
The dubious deals
Recently, the Commandant of Kaweweta Army Barracks, Brig Christopher Kazoora, told the commission of inquiry into land matters that State House issued instructions for surveying of the army land in 2014.
The land that was formerly owned by East Mengo Growers Cooperatives Union comprises an army training school for recruits, political school for junior officers, and the Fort Samora Machel Special Forces School.
“I got communication from State House that surveyors were coming to survey and divide the land to be given to ESB, a Turkish investment firm, under the Free Economic Zone Initiative,” Brig Kazoora said, adding that the 36-square mile land was divided and the army has since remained with only 18 square miles.
Asked to explain the extra 1.5 square mile land created, Brig Kazoora said the survey revealed the land was bigger and the army command took a decision to use it to resettle ex-soldiers.
