Kampala — Government has returned more than 400 acres of land in Mawokota to the Buganda government.

The land was taken over in the 1960s when the central government led by Milton Obote abolished kingdoms.

Minister of State for Privatisation Peter Kasenene handed the land title to the Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere at Communications House yesterday.

Located at Jeza in Mawokota, the land comprises 402.40 acres registered as Freehold Register Volume 29 Folio 23.

Previously owned by the kingdom under the Buganda Investment Corporation Estates Ltd., it was annexed by government and placed under a company called Uganda Crane Estates Ltd.

The minister said Uganda Crane Estates was under Class IV of the Public Enterprises Reform and Divestiture Statute, enterprises from which government is to fully divest itself, either by return to former owners or outright sale.

Ssemwogerere said the return of the land coincided with the kingdom's 10-year development programme, and pledged that Buganda would support the privatisation process.

Present were the kingdom's Attorney General John Katende and officials from the Privatisation Unit.