By Our Reporter
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Gomba, Mugenyi Vicent, has been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on serious charges of fraudulent procurement of land titles and forgery. He has been remanded until June 5, 2025, as investigations continue.
The arrest and prosecution were led by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Mugenyi is accused of forging documents and fraudulently converting land from customary to freehold tenure in favor of individuals who had no legitimate claim to it. The multimillion land in question—recorded under FRV 60 Folio 4 in Gomba District—belongs to the Madhvani Group, one of Uganda’s largest private conglomerates.
This case is part of a broader investigation into a land fraud syndicate that has seen multiple public officials and private individuals dragged into the spotlight. Mugenyi now joins a group of ten other accused individuals, including Kakooza Jasper, the Acting Commissioner for Mapping and Surveys, who are alleged to have played various roles in the fraudulent scheme.
According to investigators, between 2016 and 2017, while stationed at the Mpigi Lands Office, Mugenyi is said to have forged an application to convert the Madhvani-owned land from customary tenure to freehold. This forged application allegedly facilitated the illegal issuance of land titles in the names of individuals who were part of the conspiracy.
The prosecution of high-ranking officials such as an RDC and a commissioner signals a stronger government stance on tackling entrenched corruption in Uganda’s land administration system—a sector long plagued by fraud and impunity.
“This is part of a growing effort to restore integrity in the land sector,” said a source from the Anti-Corruption Unit. “Public officials who misuse their positions to grab land, especially from investors and citizens, will be held accountable.”
Land fraud has emerged as one of Uganda’s most pervasive corruption challenges, affecting both rural communities and major investors alike. The Madhvani Group, with substantial investments in agriculture and industry, has been one of the recent high-profile victims of fraudulent title creation.
The case will return to court on June 5, when Mugenyi Vicent is expected to reappear. In the meantime, investigators are continuing to track down other individuals linked to the fraudulent scheme.
As the net tightens, more arrests are expected, sending a clear signal that no official is above the law in Uganda’s war against corruption.
