UGANDA, Wakiso | Real Muloodi News | A legal showdown unfolds in Namayumba Sub-county, Wakiso District, as a businesswoman turned surveyor, Berna Nakato, and 27 others face fresh litigation over a 1,044-acre land dispute.
The dispute centres on allegations of illegal land acquisition and mismanagement of the late Gabudyeri Lubajja’s estate, with the latest lawsuit brought forth by a group of Lubajja’s grandchildren.
The Deputy Registrar of Makindye Family Division Court has issued a summons to the 28 defendants, including Berna Nakato, granting them 15 days to respond to the civil suit filed against them.
Led by Josephine Mpamulungi and Teddy Namusoke, Lubajja’s grandchildren accuse the defendants of unlawfully appropriating a portion of their grandfather’s land without rightful entitlement.
Among the defendants named in the lawsuit are Abudallah Musisi Kyakonye, Justine Teopister Nakityo, Wavuvumira Mukasa, Margret Maria Namukasa, and several others.
The plaintiffs contend that these individuals, along with Nakato, participated in the illegal division of the land, disregarding the rightful beneficiaries.
Failure to respond to the summons within the stipulated timeframe may result in a judgment rendered against the defendants in absentia, according to the court summons.
The legal action seeks accountability and restitution for the alleged mismanagement and illegal transfer of land parcels.
The conflict originated when Richard Semitala and Eustarious Ssegantebuka, purported administrators of Lubajja’s estate, engaged Nakato as a surveyor in 2022.
Nakato subsequently received 150 acres of land as compensation, sparking contention among other family members led by Mpamulungi and Namusoke.
The dispute intensified, involving more than 5,000 residents residing in the contested area, exacerbating tensions and legal complexities.
Previous attempts to address the dispute, including a Miscellaneous Application filed in March last year, were met with challenges.
The court dismissed the application, citing irregularities in the applicant’s signature. Despite setbacks, the plaintiffs remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, as they seek to rectify alleged fraudulent activities surrounding Lubajja’s estate.
Mathias Mulumba, a family lawyer representing the plaintiffs, delineated the distinct charges against each defendant.
Nakato and others are accused of unlawfully transferring land, while Semitala, Ssegantebuka, and additional defendants face allegations of fraudulent activity in estate management.
The inclusion of the Commissioner for Land Registration stems from the approval of purported fraudulent land transfers, as asserted by the plaintiffs.
Efforts to contact the defendants for comment were unsuccessful at the time of press. However, Mpamulungi’s legal team has served all defendants with summons, setting the stage for a legal showdown on February 26.
The dispute traces its origins to allegations against Semitala and Ssegantebuka, Lubajja’s grandchildren, accused by Mpamulungi and Namusoke of fraudulently obtaining letters of administration.
These allegations underpin the ongoing legal battle over the contested Wakiso land, highlighting the complexities and challenges surrounding estate management and inheritance disputes.
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