Court Remands Rukiga DRDC Majjambere on Charges of Theft and Land Grabbing.
The embattled Rukiga Deputy RDC Kamuntu Semakula Ivan a.k.a Majambere has today been arraigned before the Gomba Magistrates’ Court and remanded to prison on allegations of land grabbing and cattle theft.
He was arrested yesterday, from Rukiga District, by a team from the State House Anti Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) in collaboration with Police.
Majambere, along with other individuals who are still at large, are charged with Conspiracy to Defraud, Stealing Cattle and Criminal Trespass.
According to the charge sheet, In August 2023, Majambere and his accomplices violently seized a farmland comprising approximately 300 acres (Block 75, Plot 2) in Gomba District, belonging to 75 year elderly Frank Rushanganwa.
Mzee Rushanganwa has reportedly held a certificate of title for the land since 2003. According to the charge sheet, during the incident, Majembere and his accomplices stole 157 cows valued at UGX 318 million and transported them to an unknown location.
Majambere claims to have purchased part of the land from his co-accused, Mwesigye, in 2020, who, in turn, claimed that he had bought the entire property in 2018, but failed to present proof of his purchase. To consolidate their illegal occupation, the duo sold some portions of the land to some unsuspecting individuals.
In March 2024, court issued an eviction order to Majambere’s co-accused (Amos Mwesigye).
The charge sheet further states that inspite of the orders by court, the duo continued to pause a threat to the legitimate owner of the land, Mzee Rushanganwa, which led to the intervention by SH-ACU, subsequently leading the apprehending of Ivan Kamuntu Majambere on November 21, 2024.
The Resident State Attorney Arthur Masaba has told the court that the investigations are still ongoing to complete the file.
The presiding magistrate, Her Worship Pauline Sabakaki has denied Majjembere bail since his co-accused Mwesigye Amos is still on the run. Therefore, she has issued a warrant of arrest for Mwesigye.
Majjambere has been remanded to Kanoni Prison, in Gomba District until December 3, 2024.
Meanwhile, through his X handle (formerly twitter), Majjambere has denied the charges against him, stating that they are “trumped up”.
“I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED ON TRUMPED UP CHARGES.
Fellow country men ,today on my official duty in Rukiga ,i was arrested by @AntiGraft_SH officers and charged with an offence iam sure is false,my side of this story hasn’t been listened to by the relevant offices but like a law abiding citizen ,i had to comply .
Please pray for me so that i overcome .” Majjambere posted on his X handle
