ONCE INTERDICTED! How Error-Prone KCCA Boss Approved Church Demolition, Arrested By Nakalema Team

By Francis Otucu

The Anti-Corruption Unit of State House has ‘picked’ Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Acting Director, Physical Planning, Ivan Katongole for ‘interview’

His ‘picking’, early Monday morning, was in line with a demolition of 50-year old St. Peter’s Church of Uganda, Ndeeba Sunday night.

At the time of his arrest, Katongole was attending the first management executive meeting Chaired by the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago.

The meeting was attended by both KCCA’s technical and political wings.

KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka was in attendance.

Well-placed sources say Katongole, who has been in office for barely two months, after he replaced Moses Atwine whose contract expired early last month, used his position to approve plans for a two-level commercial building to replace the church.

However, by the time of demolition, KCCA had not obtained a consent letter from Namirembe Diocese agreeing to the demolition and compensation, which according to sources, is the procedure.

Exclusive details this news site has seen and obtained shows that Ephraim Enterprises Ltd submitted plan for the construction of the said building on July 12, 2020 and on July 24, 2020, it was approved, allowing demolition of the church. Ephraim Enterprises is allegedly owned by businessman, Lodovico Mwangye.

KATONGOLE

In 2012, then Kampala Capital City Authority boss, Jennifer Musisi, interdicted 30 senior officials of the authority, in a period of three months, over fraud.

Rubaga Division Town Clerk, James Luyimbazi, Katongole (the then manager for physical planning), Michael Nsereko (a senior consultant), Mesach Mubiru (the health director) and Paul Mudanye (a solid waste engineer) were arrested on allegation of causing financial loss, worth billions, to the authority.

Others arrested over the same were Badru Muyingo, Musa Mukalazi and Kyota Mulani all from the directorate of revenue and treasury.

KCCA sources said the interdictions followed several complaints from the public, accusing them of soliciting for bribes.

Other allegations probed at the time were selling receipts to property owners and approving illegal structural plans.

As a result, the Inspector General of Government also probed claims of ghost payments by KCCA officials to different individuals and private firms.

Subsequently, the Katongoles were interdicted to pave way for investigation.

Two years later, Katongole returned to KCCA and is now the Ag. Director, Physical Planning.

POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED

Meanwhile, following the demolition, at least 11 people have been arrested. They are; Mohammad Kawooya, Bbosa Muniru, Amza Kiberu, Abbasi Mutebi, Ali Bulega, Simon Matovu, Ali Kalika, Andrew Mujuzi, Badru Ssekito, John Isirinya and Bashir Maruti.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrests. He noted, four police officers who were supposed to protect Church properties but failed to do so were also arrested and will be charged with neglect of duty.

The officer are; DPC Katwe, SP Epedu David, OC Station Ndeeba Police Station, ASP Mugira Yeko Kato, Field Force Unjt (FFU) Commander KMP/South Region, ASP Kaloli Isabirye.

By press time according to Onyango, all the eleven were still being detained at Katwe Police Station to help with investigations and will be charged with malicious damage to properties.