Buganda Kingdom has clarified that Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II did not own the Kaazi land in his personal capacity. The clarification follows State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja’s directive to cancel all land titles on the contested land.
The minister’s directive was issued during a public hearing at Kaazi, where various stakeholders including members of the late Kabaka Daudi Chwa’s family, bibanja holders, surveyors, representatives of the Uganda Scouts Association Trustees, and investors were given a platform to present their claims.
Mayanja stated that the Ministry received a petition from beneficiaries of the estates of His Highness Daudi Chwa and Omulangira George William Mawanda, who claimed ownership of the land. The petition also alleged illegal transactions involving the Uganda Scouts Association and implicated the Buganda Land Board Limited.
The 1938 Donation by Kabaka Daudi Chwa II
Investigations confirmed that in 1938, a year before his death, Kabaka Daudi Chwa II donated a portion of his Kaazi estate to the Boy Scouts of Uganda through a Deed of Donation dated June 7, 1938.
“He donated 100 acres to the Scouts of Uganda under a leasehold arrangement. Upon expiry of the lease, the 100 acres were to be transferred to the Scouts under mailo tenure, allowing them to own it in perpetuity. The remaining 20 acres were to be transferred to his heir. This donation was made in the best interests of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Uganda to ensure their activities would not be disrupted by future generations,” Mayanja said.
Minister Mayanja’s Directives
Mayanja issued several directives which included the deregistration of Buganda Land Board Limited – He ordered the Registrar of Companies to deregister Buganda Land Board Limited, which was registered in 2015 as a private company, misleadingly presenting itself as the 1962 statutory body established under Section 118(1)(b) and (3) of the Uganda Independence Act of 1962.
Deregistration of Buganda Land Fund Limited; He also directed that its sister company, Buganda Land Fund Limited, be deregistered; Cease of Land Transactions – Directors of both companies were instructed to cease any dealings in land transactions by operation of law.
Halt on Compensation Claims; He directed the Secretary to the Treasury and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands to stop Buganda Land Board Limited’s claim for compensation regarding Kigo Prison and any other claims under the yet-to-be-constitutionalized Traditional Rulers (Assets and Properties) Act of 1993.
Recovery of Disbursed Funds; He recommended steps be taken to recover any funds already disbursed.
Overview of the Kaazi Land Dispute
In response to the minister’s directives, Buganda Kingdom clarified that Kaazi land, located on Block 273, Plot 5, is part of the 350 square acres allocated to the Kabaka of Buganda under the 1900 Agreement.
The corresponding land title was created on June 22, 1923, initially registered under FC 18454, and later recorded in the Mailo Register Volume (MRV) 269, folio 25. When the block and plot system for mailo registration was introduced, the land was registered in the name of H.H. Chwa II.
“In 1948, the Kabaka of Buganda leased the land to the Uganda Scouts Association, c/o Private Bag, for a 49-year term starting July 1, 1948. The lease was strictly for scouting and camping purposes and prohibited the Scouts Association from subdividing or subleasing the land. This lease was registered under instrument number 81336 in leasehold register volume LRV 236, folio 7,” Buganda Kingdom stated.
Following the attack on Lubiri in Mengo on May 24, 1966, and the exile of Ssekabaka Edward Frederick Luwangula Muteesa II, the central government abolished kingdoms and confiscated their official estates, including the Kabakaship mailo land. The land was vested in the Uganda Land Commission under Article 108 of the 1967 Constitution of Uganda.
Currently, the Buganda Land Board manages the land, as it was returned to the Kabaka of Buganda in 1993 under Section 2 of the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act. The land is legally vested in the Kabaka.
Buganda Kingdom’s Position
Buganda Kingdom asserts that the Uganda Land Commission and the Scouts Association illegally engaged in land dealings by creating multiple subleases without the consent of the Kabaka, the registered proprietor. The Kabaka successfully petitioned the Commissioner of Land Registration, leading to the cancellation of the illegal lease titles.
In 2020, the Kabaka won a court case against Prince Kalemeera and others who falsely claimed ownership of the land. Consequently, it is undisputed that the land rightfully belongs to the Kabaka.
“It is important to note that Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II did not own the Kaazi land in his personal capacity. He held it in his official capacity as Kabaka. This land was passed on to Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II and is now held by Kabaka Mutebi II. While Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II owned some land personally, such land was registered under the name ‘Daudi Chwa,’ not ‘H.H. Chwa II.’ The title ‘H.H.’ (His Highness) is exclusive to the Kabaka,” Buganda Kingdom emphasized.
The kingdom urged the public to disregard misleading claims suggesting that the land does not belong to the Kabaka.
