Fresh from an emphatic victory that saw him retain his Gulu seat by beating his closest rival with 35,000 votes, re-elected Gulu Chairman Ojara Martin Mapenduzi has said he will use his term in office to prevent land of ordinary people from being snatched by what he described as selfish and fraudulent leaders.
Mapenduzi did not mention names. Recent reports alleged Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah sold off a chunk of land in Omoro to Museveni. Oulanyah, through his campaign manager Ben Acellam has vehemently denied the claims saying the letter was forgery by people who want to soil his name.
Mapenduzi was declared winner of the Gulu LC5 Chair contest on Thursday morning and shortly after that told the press that his agenda will be to protect land in the district.
“I can promise you that my office will do investigations into the alleged land sale in Awali Wang-lobo. I will have to make sure that there is no land taken without the consultation of the local community in Gulu,” Mapenduzi told journalists.
Jacob Oulanyah the deputy speaker of Parliament is being accused by Simon Toolit of allegedly selling land in Awali Wang-Lobo for Shs 24 billion to President Museveni.
However Ben Acelam, Oulanyah’s political assistant dismissed Toolit’s allegations.
“We have found out that the document [letter] is a forgery,’’ said Ben Acellam.
‘‘We have gathered enough evidence and we shall soon drag him [Toolit] to court.’’
Toolit maintains that the letter was written by Jacob Oulanyah.
