The National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership in Masaka District is embroiled in a dispute over ownership and control of party properties.
The wrangle pits the current Masaka District NRM Chairperson, Herman Muwulya, and his executive committee against his predecessor, Peter Ssenkungu, whom they accuse of withholding key party assets.Muwulya says that although Ssenkungu relinquished office last year, he has declined to hand over the land title for the party headquarters and other properties still in his possession.
He explains that in April last year, Ssenkungu initiated the construction of the Masaka District NRM headquarters at Nkuke Trading Centre in Buwunga Sub-county, using funds raised from well-wishers.
However, he alleges that Ssenkungu has since personalized the project and deliberately refused to transfer the land title to the current leadership, raising suspicion about his intentions.
According to Muwulya, aside from the Nkuke site, Ssenkungu is also holding onto another plot in Masaka City that was donated to the party by the Masaka District Local Government Council in 2017.
He argues that the continued withholding of these land titles is undermining efforts to lobby for infrastructure development, as the current leadership lacks the necessary documentation to advance the projects.
Harriet Babirye, the Masaka District NRM Secretary for Youth Affairs, says that despite contributing to the construction of the party offices, members of the current leadership have been denied access to the site and are unable to supervise ongoing works.She warns that the standoff could stall progress on the project, noting that the current leadership is in a better position to mobilize resources and partnerships needed to complete the offices.
Babirye further claims thatin addition to the land titles, the former leadership has withheld the architectural designs for the premises.She adds that the team is now considering petitioning the Party National Chairperson, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to intervene and resolve the impasse before it derails party plans.
However, Ssenkungu has dismissed the accusations, accusing his successor of making unfounded claims over property that does not legally belong to the party.
He maintains that he personally acquired the disputed land intended for the NRM headquarters and questions why his successor is criticizing him instead of acknowledging his contribution.
Ssenkungu insists that he will only consider handing over the land title if Muwulya tones down his approach and formally engages him in a respectful manner to jointly pursue completion of the project. URN