MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Family seeks to reclaim 49 acres from Lyantonde district

Published

6 years ago

September 21, 2020

Byehondozo and her daughter Kakako. Photos by Davis Buyondo

LYANTONDE -A family in Lyantonde is seeking to repossess its 49.05 acres of land said to be illegally occupied by the district local government for 14 years.

The contested land is located on Block 76, plot 50, Kaliiro ward ‘A’ in Kabula county. It currently houses the district administration block and other departmental offices plus other portions subdivided and allocated to different developers.

It is currently becoming a major land row since the claimant wants the district to vacate her land and compensate her for the period the have occupied it illegally.

Copies of relevant documents obtained by the New Vision indicate Joyce Byehondozo, 81, a resident of Kaliiro ‘A’ in Lyantonde town council, is the rightful owner of the land who originally possessed a title.

She was born on this land in 1939 and inherited it from her father __late Kinanigira who also inherited it from his father.

She explained that former President Apollo Milton Obote’s government took a small portion of land and put structures including a sub-county block, the house of the sub-county chief and a toilet.

Her woes date back to 1993 when Lyantonde was still under Rakai district administration. It is said that Rakai district bought the land from Byehondozo in 1993 which land it transferred to Lyantonde when it became an independent district in 2006.

But Byehondozo disputed the claim saying she did not sell her land to Rakai district or anyone as it is claimed.

She explained that after claiming her right over the disputed land, some unscrupulous district officials asked her to avail to them the duplication certificate of the title for verification.

This was done on an understanding that after the verification process the duplicate certificate of the title would be returned back to her.

However, Byehondozo did not receive her duplicate certificate of the title for her land from Rakai District as it had been agreed.

Her daughter Florence Kakako (67) and grandchildren are following up on the matter given the fact that the old lady is weak and can hardly move.

They later learnt that the then Rakai Administration registered itself at the lands office as the actual proprietor of the land without her knowledge and consent or any payment for consideration.

“Rakai district authorities fraudulently obtained the title of the land and we are treated as illegal occupants,” Kakako recounted.

In a letter dated July 17, 2018 addressed to the land commission secretariat, Muhanga and Associates, who represent the ill-fated family, it is indicated that in 2010, Lyantonde district had been entered on to the certificate of the title as the proprietor of the land.

And to their shock, Byehondozo and her family were served with a notice to vacate the land from Christopher Okumu, the Chief Administrative Officer dated June 15, 2015.

“Some claimed we were illegal occupants and they wanted us to vacate the land to pave a way for their development projects including a subdivision of plots to allocate them to different developers,” she said.

The family further holds the Lyantonde district and the Attorney General jointly liable for the continued trespass on their land and the eventual fraud in procuring the registration of the same land in their names as well as developing it illegally.

In May 2017, Byehondozo filed a claim in the High Court at Masaka intending for eviction orders against the district and the compensation.

Nevertheless, on June 30, 2017, the district and attorney general of Uganda entered their respective defence in the main suit.

Arnold Agira, Byehondozo’s son speaking to the reporters after the family camping at the CAO’s office

Statehouse intervenes

The matter came to the attention of President Yoweri Museveni. In a letter to the Lyantonde CAO, dated February 1, 2016, Flora Kiconco,
the Principal Private Secretary to President Yoweri Museveni, the matter was brought to the attention of the president who directed that the district should not interfere in Byehodozo’s occupation of land.

However, Kiconco added, this office continued to receive complaints from the complainant that the district officials had continued trespassing on her land, cultivating on it, and in the process of fencing it to deny her use.

“The purpose of this letter is to once again inform you about H.E the president’s directive and request you to ensure that Byehondozo enjoys a quiet possession of that land without any interference,” she noted. She further requested the CAO to prevail over the district officials who interfere with Byehondozo’s occupation on the said land until when the president intervenes.

Temporary injunction

On February 14, 2018, Byehondozo entered a temporary injunction restraining- both parties, their agents, assignees, and others, from leasing, alienating, selling, or harassing or in any way interfering with each other’s’ occupation until the main suit is determined.

The matter was before her Worship-Beatrice Stella Atingu, the Assistant Registrar of the High Court of Uganda at Masaka.

Although the injunction was issued, the district did not halt its operations on the land. Different people were allocated portions of land for cultivation.

Last year, people who were allocated portions of land sprayed chemicals to dry the grass but Byehondozo’s family lost two cows after eating the sprayed grass.

In another letter dated February 19, 2018, Kiconco requests the Lyatonde RDC to ensure that both parties (complainant and the defendants) abide by the court order.

And last week, according to Arnold Agira, one of Byehondozo’s children, another district staff sprayed with chemicals a portion of land measuring half an acre.

He argued that they were provoked to storm the CAO’s office due to the increasing violation of the injunction.

“We honored the injunction but the district is still allocating people land. We have reached the RDC’s office, CAO, Police but no one has bothered assisting us,” he said.

However, Byehondozo’s family has appealed to Col. Edith Nakalema, the head of the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, to investigate the corruption and increasing theft of land in Lyantonde especially their 49.05 acres which the district took.

District intervenes

A delegation of top district officials toured the land on Tuesday.

They include Catherine Kamwiine, the Resident District Commissioner, David Lubuuka, the Chief Administrative Officer, Jamal Kanyesigye, the District Police Commander, DISO- and Fred Muhangi, the Lyantonde LC5 chairperson.

Led by Kamwiine, the officials first held a closed meeting with the family members to dialogue over the longstanding grievances.

They later toured the land and halted several activities mainly farming as well as warning people who were cultivating the land illegally.

Former RDC speaks

Sulaiman Tuguragara Matojo, the former Lyantonde RDC, said that the matter came to his office and statehouse intervened and built her a new house on the land as they wait for the court decision on the matter.

He explained that his office had earlier advised the two parties to sit and agree on the compensation plan but the family wanted eviction of the district headquarters which has cost over a billion shillings to build.

He explained that the family was only paid sh11m as compensated for the portion of land measuring about half an acre which Obote’s government has occupied.

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Campaigning LC I Chairpersons Barred from Land Transactions Until Polls End.

Published

3 days ago

July 17, 2026

witnessradio.org

The Ministry of Lands has restricted LC I chairpersons seeking re-election from handling land transactions until after the July 28 village elections to prevent fraud, disputes and irregularities during the campaign period.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has temporarily barred Local Council I (LC I) chairpersons seeking re-election from participating in land-related transactions, citing concerns over possible fraud and disputes during the election period.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the ministry directed all campaigning LC I chairpersons to stop witnessing, endorsing, recommending or overseeing land transactions until the electoral process is concluded.

The directive comes as campaigns for village chairperson elections enter the final days ahead of polling on July 28.

“The advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure to safeguard the integrity of land transactions during this transition period and to minimise the risk of disputes, fraud, or other irregularities that may arise,” the ministry said in the notice.

The ministry advised members of the public against relying on LC I chairpersons who are actively campaigning for services involving the witnessing of land sale agreements, verification of ownership, handling of boundary disputes or any other transaction requiring local administrative involvement.

Individuals with urgent land matters were encouraged to seek assistance from qualified legal practitioners or use other lawful channels until the elections are completed.

“The Ministry urges the public to exercise patience until the election process is concluded. This precaution will help prevent costly mistakes and safeguard the interests of all parties,” the notice added.

The temporary restriction comes amid continued concerns over land disputes, which remain among the leading sources of conflict in Uganda, with local leaders often playing a key role in verifying ownership and facilitating village-level transactions.

Although LC I chairpersons do not have the legal mandate to transfer land ownership or issue titles, they are commonly relied upon during land transactions because of their knowledge of residents and local land histories.

They often help confirm the identity of sellers, identify boundaries and witness sale agreements alongside members of their executive committees, providing community-level verification before transactions are completed.

Legal experts have previously cautioned that LC I endorsements only provide local credibility and do not replace formal requirements under Uganda’s land laws. Buyers are still required to conduct proper due diligence before purchasing land.

According to the Electoral Commission roadmap, elections for Village (LC I) chairpersons will be held on July 28 across Uganda’s 71,214 villages. Elections for Parish (LC II) chairpersons will follow on August 10.

The Ministry of Lands said LC I chairpersons will resume their normal involvement in land-related matters after the conclusion of the electoral process.

Source: nilepost.co.ug

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Mbale City Senior Lands Officer Charged with Abuse of Office Over Sale of Govt Property

Published

5 days ago

July 15, 2026

witnessradio.org

KAMPALA — A senior land management official in Mbale City has been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court on charges of abuse of office and fraudulent procurement of a certificate of title after allegedly facilitating the irregular sale of government-allocated land to a private businessman.

Emmanuel Paul Kigaye appeared in court Tuesday following his arrest by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

According to the prosecution, between September 2019 and May 2023, Kigaye, while serving as senior land management officer at Mbale City, engaged in an arbitrary act prejudicial to his employer’s interests. He is accused of irregularly causing the Registrar of Titles at the Mbale Ministry Zonal Office to issue a certificate of title for Plot 27, Bishop Masaba Road, in the name of businessman Moses Wamatsembe.

The state alleges that the action was illegal because the plot had already been allocated to the Dairy Development Authority. Prosecutors further claim that Kigaye fraudulently processed and procured the registration of a freehold certificate of title — FRV MBA199 Folio 22, instrument number MBA-0009476 — for land measuring approximately 0.5040 hectares at the same location, still in Wamatsembe’s name.

Kigaye denied the charges. He was remanded to Luzira Prison and is scheduled to reappear in court July 16.

The case highlights ongoing efforts by anti-corruption agencies to tackle irregularities in land administration, a sector long plagued by disputes and allegations of malfeasance in Uganda. Land management officers wield significant influence over title processing and allocations, making the position susceptible to abuse when proper safeguards are bypassed.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, established by President Yoweri Museveni in December 2018 under Article 99(4) of the Constitution, was created to fast-track the resolution of corruption complaints received by the presidency. Since its inception, the unit has conducted more than 400 operations across more than 100 districts, resulting in the arraignment of more than 856 suspects and 150 convictions. It has also recovered billions of shillings in public funds and facilitated the interdiction of numerous corrupt officials.

The arrest of Kigaye forms part of the unit’s intensified scrutiny of public officials suspected of undermining government interests through corrupt land deals. Such cases often involve collusion between bureaucrats and private individuals to divert public resources for personal gain, eroding public trust in local governance and development authorities.

Court proceedings are expected to shed more light on the alleged transaction as investigations continue. Officials from Mbale City and the Dairy Development Authority have yet to issue public statements on the matter.

Source: pmldaily.com

MEDIA FOR CHANGE NETWORK

Kibaale Residents Raise Corruption Concerns Over Delayed Land Title Processing

Published

5 days ago

July 15, 2026

witnessradio.org

Residents of Kibaale District have accused officials of corruption and unnecessary delays in the processing of land titles, saying the challenges continue to fuel land conflicts and deny vulnerable communities secure land ownership. The concerns were raised during a Uganda Land Commission sensitisation on the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification programme.

Residents of Kibaale District have raised concerns over alleged corruption and prolonged delays in the processing of land titles, saying the challenges continue to affect land ownership and fuel disputes within communities.

The concerns were raised during a community sensitisation meeting organised by the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) on the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAC) programme, ahead of the issuance of more than 2,000 land titles covering 647 hectares (1,600 acres) of land purchased by the government from Fred Kasozi for beneficiary communities.

The land, located on Block 241, Plot 1 in Buyanga, covers Kasambya, Kineka A, Kikonge, and Kidukuule villages in Buyanga Sub-county, Kibaale District.

Residents welcomed the initiative but questioned why many beneficiaries under previous phases of the programme are yet to receive their land titles despite completing the registration process several years ago

They argued that the delays have created uncertainty over land ownership and contributed to an increase in land-related disputes.

Community members also alleged that corruption within the land administration process has made it difficult for vulnerable people to access land titles, with some officials reportedly demanding bribes before processing applications.

Ibrahim John Mulumba, a resident of Kibaale Town Council, said he applied for a land title more than six years ago but has never received it.

“Some of us processed our land titles over six years ago, but they have never been released. We believe some of the delays are because people could not afford to pay bribes. Corruption among some land officers has frustrated many applicants,” Mulumba said.

He further claimed that only a few people managed to obtain land titles through the intervention of adjudication committees.

Janepher Mbabazi, a resident of Kikonge A Village, accused some government officials of promoting corruption, which she said has contributed to increasing cases of land grabbing.

Matia Birungi, the LC I Chairperson of Kasambya Village, welcomed the government’s intervention, saying the programme offers a lasting solution to persistent land conflicts affecting communities.

Augustine Bugara from the Uganda Land Commission warned officials against engaging in corrupt practices, noting that such behaviour undermines government programmes intended to improve people’s livelihoods.

“Corruption sabotages government programmes and denies intended beneficiaries the services they deserve,” Bugara said.

Vincent Kasaija, the LC II Chairperson of Kibaale, applauded the government for rolling out the programme, saying secure land ownership would promote peaceful coexistence and create a stable environment for economic development.

Kenneth Kabyanga, Chairperson of Kibaale Town Council, urged the Commission to ensure that land titling is implemented in line with the town’s physical development plan to avoid future planning challenges within the central business area.

Tom John Kasenge, a Commissioner at the Uganda Land Commission, said the programme is intended to improve community livelihoods by securing land rights and reducing land-related conflicts.

“The programme is aimed at promoting community livelihoods through agriculture by securing land ownership and ensuring communities live in a conflict-free environment,” Kasenge said.

He explained that communities who have occupied the land as bona fide occupants would eventually receive legal ownership, enabling them to invest confidently in long-term development.

Kasenge also outlined the requirements for processing land titles, noting that beneficiaries would pay processing fees ranging between Shs30,000 and Shs40,000.

He said the exercise would begin with community mobilisation, followed by boundary opening, land surveys, plot subdivision, and eventual issuance of land titles.

Responding to concerns raised by residents, Kasenge assured the community that the Commission remains committed to addressing challenges affecting the programme and finding sustainable solutions to land disputes.

Meanwhile, Kibaale Resident District Commissioner Stephen Byaruhanga acknowledged the existence of corruption within the district’s land administration system, alleging that some officials attached to the District Land Board had frustrated legitimate applicants.

“There have been corruption tendencies involving some officials, and many people have failed to benefit because of those practices,” Byaruhanga said.

He requested the Uganda Land Commission to provide his office with records from previous land title processing exercises to facilitate investigations into cases where beneficiaries never received their titles.

“Having this information will enable the security team to investigate those who frustrated the process and ensure accountability,” he added.

John Byarugaba, a staff surveyor in the Kibaale District Lands Office, said preparations for the latest land title distribution exercise had been completed.

“We already have everything in place, including survey stones, and we are ready to begin the exercise,” Byarugaba said.

He explained that under Block 244, Plot 20 in Karuguza, 912 land titles were processed and all beneficiaries received them, while under Block 178, Plot 1 in Nyamarunda Town Council, 1,517 land titles were processed, although a few remain uncollected.

He added that approximately 200 land titles under Block 244, Plot 19 in Buyaga, Karuguza, are still pending processing.

Source: nilepost.co.ug