UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | The Uganda Land Commission (ULC) has directed the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) to vacate land disputed with Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH).
The four-acre parcel is situated on Nile Avenue in Jinja City, adjacent to JRRH and the Jinja Muslim Cemetery.
The UMSC had established a perimeter fence around the contested land and utilized it for various activities, including meetings and Islamic prayers.
However, the dispute culminated in a decision during a meeting chaired by the ULC secretary in Kampala.
JRRH Chairperson Board of Governors, Dr David Charles Mukisa, explained that all parties presented documents verifying ownership, leading to the conclusion that the land belongs to the ULC, with JRRH designated as the user entity.
Dr. Mukisa stated, “The hospital was instructed to go ahead with its plans of redeveloping the land. The title that ULC has for that land was given to the hospital.”
The hospital intends to use the land for the construction of facilities such as a regional blood bank, cardiac centre, dialysis centre, and cancer treatment unit.
The meeting on Friday 19th April, 2024, included representatives from UMSC, JRRH, the Ministry of Health, and the Jinja City Council.
Jinja District Kadhi Sheikh Ismail Adi Basoga indicated that an official statement would be released after meeting with the Mufti of Uganda, as they are still preparing for the final decision from the headquarters.
The UMSC aims to use the land for the establishment of a prayer centre and shopping arcade to generate income.
Jinja City Clerk Edward Lwanga mentioned that an urgent meeting would be held to determine the next steps following ULC’s ruling.
“The board of JRRH will sit with Muslims and the City authorities to decide on how the Muslims will access the cemetery because the road that connects the cemetery is in the middle of the contested land and the court also ordered that it should be blocked,” he explained.
In a previous legal dispute, Civil Suit 193 from October 6, 2009, between UMSC and ULC regarding ownership of the same land, Justice Michael Elubu ruled in favour of the Commission on April 18, 2022. ULC had entrusted the possession of the land to JRRH.
On March 12, 2024, Lands State Minister Sam Mayanja visited the disputed land and concluded that it belonged to Muslims due to their use of the land since 1927 as a cemetery. This decision led Jinja residents to protest on March 21 against the minister’s directive.
On April 18, security organs led by Resident City District Commissioner Darius Nandinda announced that the contested land was off-limits to both JRRH and Muslims, with security taking control pending the Kampala meeting.
These developments have put an end to the land dispute and solidified ULC’s decision to instruct UMSC to vacate the land, enabling JRRH to proceed with its redevelopment plans.
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