Jinja. The Inspector General of Government (IGG) has halted appointment of a new Land Board for Jinja District amidst accusations of fraud and massive irregularities on the part of the municipal and district councils during the course of its appointment.

The district council had during its sitting on January 18, approved the appointment of Mr Richard Mayengo, to represent Butembe County on the board and Mr Swaleh Kirunda as the municipality representative.

Mr Mayengo has been the speaker of the district council, while Mr Kirunda was recently nominated to contest for the Buyanga Sub-county district councillor to Iganga District council.

Mr Muhammad Katuntubiru and Ms Mariam Nandunga, both of whom did not have defined constituencies, were listed as representatives.

However, in a January 22 letter to the ministry of Lands Permanent Secretary, the deputy IGG, Ms Mariam Wangadya, directed that approval of the new board be put on hold pending investigations into allegations of irregularities.

Ms Wangadya pointed out that though Mr Mayengo claimed he had resigned, he was by the time of approval by the district council still the serving Jinja District Speaker while Mr Kirunda had been nominated to contest for councillorship both scenarios rendering both of them ineligible.

The IGG also pointed out that both Mr Katuntubiru and Ms Mariam Nandunga were equally ineligible as they do not represent any areas.

“The appointment of Mr Katuntubira and Ms Nanduga contravenes Section 57 of the land Act since they do not represent any area. Mr Mayengo is the district speaker and Mr Kiswiriri is contesting for councillorship in Iganga. This is therefore to ask you to halt the appointment of the members of the district land board until our investigations are complete,” the letter read in part.

The Chief Administrative Officer, Ms Olive Nankyanzi, acknowledged receipt of a copy of the said letter and hastened to add that though no official communication has been received from the ministry of Lands, the board will not be inaugurated until the IGG communicates its findings.