Legislators investigating irregularities in the acquisition of departed Asians’ properties by individuals and companies have requested for services of Interpol to arrest a key witness, Muhammad Alibhai who is on the run.

Muhammad Allibhai, a Ugandan Asian, is wanted by the police trying to execute a warrant issued by the MPs on the taskforce of the Committee on Commission, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) on March 11 after he declined to appear in Parliament on several occasions when invited.

According to the committee, Allibhai is allegedly holding more than 700 land titles for properties that were expropriated when the owners were expelled by President Idi Amin in 1972.

Alibhai is accused of forging documents to acquire the said properties.

The properties under probe include buildings and land across the country whereas Kampala alone has 332 buildings against his name.

“We are still looking for Mr Muhammad Alhibhai and he should use this chance to show up and testify. But if he does not voluntarily appear now, we will involve Interpol to arrest him because we have a clue of the country where he is hiding, ” said Ibrahim Kasozi, the task force chairperson.

Mr Kasozi, also revealed that Allibhai still has a chance to write to the Clerk to Parliament indicating when he would voluntarily come to testify and if he honours that, the warrant will be canceled.

The taskforce whose work was suspended in mid-March as Parliament adjusted its programmes in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak in the country, has recently been granted permission to resume its probe during the House recess starting next week.