Amos Tayebwa,
Mbarara
The Office of the Mbarara City Resident City Commissioner has established that most Chairpersons LC one and two overcharge the land owners and the land brokers in Mbarara City when giving stamps during land agreements and transactions.
This has raised alerts to the authorities especially the office of the RCC Mbarara City after the outcries from the public.
It has been reported that LC Bosses are torturing their people in the communities as far as land purchase and selling are concerned.
According to Jackline Kankunda, the Mbarara City North Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner revealed that the office of the RCC Mbarara City has registered several cases related to extortion and misuse of stamps by the LC 1 and 2 Chairpersons. She stated that 10% is being charged to every transaction during land purchase and selling in Mbarara City.
While meeting LC Chairpersons, stakeholders and other locals in Nyarubanga ward, Mbarara City North Division during the baraza, Kankunda threatened that the office of the RCC Mbarara City in conjunction with other security agencies like police are aware of these cases and they have launched an operation to arrest every chairperson involved in these illegal deals.
She mentioned that the LC1 office stamp has only stamp duty that is charged as service, which is meant to sustain the office of LC1 but not them to demand and put their own charges against the people.
“It’s illegal for the LC Chairpersons to charge 10% on every transaction on the land purchase and selling, even the ministry of local government warned about it and told them it’s illegal, they are not supposed to charge 10%. Also as the office of RCC Mbarara City, every transaction with charges of 10%, we say no. We have also cautioned them, they should not abuse those stamps, whoever is caught charging 10% again, will be arrested and charged” said Kankunda, DRCc Mbarara City North Division
She further mentioned that people are now running away from the LCs going to Lawyers which is also more expensive and dangerous. She urged the locals not to use lawyers in issues related to selling and purchasing the land, because the lawyers do not know the boundaries of the land, it’s better to use those LC ones who are genuine who know the history of the land.
” The moment people start running away from the LC Chairpersons because of high charges, this means we have a problem and it is going to create more land grabbers to take advantage and take people’s property using the other option of lawyers than using the LCs.” I have registered several cases where the land owners and even brokers saying the chairperson has refused to stamp for me that they want 10%, I caution the LCs to desist from that kind of transaction because it’s threatening our people” she added
Mayor Gumisiriza Kyabwisho, the incumbent Mbarara City North Division also condemned the misuse of the stamp by the LC1 chairpersons. He urged the LCs to stop overcharging the wanainchi while seeking for the service. That they should stop torturing the people in the time of providing services. He further warned them that they will be arrested if they continue overcharging people during the transaction of land purchase and selling
When Mbarara was elevated to a City status, the value of the land was hiked, many people are now running into real estate business