UGANDA, Wakiso | Real Muloodi News | The long-standing land dispute between King’s College Budo and the family of Mr Samuel Sunday Kigemuzi has finally come to an end, with the Junior Minister for Lands declaring the school as the rightful owner of the disputed property.
In a declaration made on Tuesday 27th June 2023, Mr Sam Mayanja, the State Minister for Lands, stated that the claimants of the land failed to provide sufficient evidence of ownership.
During the meeting held at the disputed land in Nsangi, Wakiso District, attended by representatives from both King’s College Budo and Mr Kigemuzi’s family, Minister Mayanja confirmed that King’s College Budo holds a certificate of title for the contested land.
The certificate was issued to the school’s trustees by the government on November 7, 1990. The school’s documented ownership of the land established its rightful claim.
Mr Kigemuzi, who was arrested for trespassing on the land, argued that his family possessed the necessary documents to prove their ownership.
He claimed to have acquired legal ownership from the administrator general and Buganda Land Board (BLB).
However, Minister Mayanja noted that Mr Kigemuzi’s family failed to present physical evidence to support their verbal claims.
He emphasised that physical structures such as houses, crop farms, or basic amenities like pit latrines are crucial for claiming rightful ownership.
Minister Mayanja, acting on behalf of the President, declared that the land belonged to the registered trustees of King’s College Budo, and his decision was final.
He warned against expecting any further orders from higher authorities. His directive settled the dispute in favour of the school, putting an end to the 10-year contention over the land.
Reports emerged that Mr Kigemuzi had already sold the disputed land to Syptech Properties Ltd for USh220 million in 2013.
The five-acre plot, in Nsangi Sub-county, Wakiso District, has been at the centre of the dispute for the past decade, specifically plots 18 and 19.
The headteacher of King’s College Budo, Mr John Fred Kazibwe, denied allegations of illegal land acquisition, stating that the land had served as the school’s farm for many years without any disputes until 2013.
Mr Michael Kintu, a lawyer representing the Kigemuzi family, expressed intentions to pursue the case at the High Court Land Division in Kampala, indicating that the legal battle is not yet over.
In addition to declaring King’s College Budo as the rightful owner of the land, Minister Mayanja issued several directives.
He instructed that all recognised tenants on the school land be registered and protected. The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Wakiso was mandated to provide security to King’s College Budo, and the school was permitted to construct a perimeter wall to demarcate the boundaries of the land.
Furthermore, trespassers found on the land were to be arrested. These measures aimed to safeguard the school’s rightful ownership and ensure the peaceful use of the land.
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