Residents of Lugala Village in Lugoba Parish, Ssibukumi Sub-county, Buikwe District, on Monday stormed Lugazi Police Station demanding the release of their colleagues arrested in a long-running land dispute involving two companies claiming ownership of 640 acres of land.
The residents, drawn from Lugala, Buyoba and Muiyibwe villages, accused security personnel deployed on the disputed land of intimidating occupants, restricting their movements and destroying their crops, leaving more than 2,000 people living in fear of eviction.
The dispute pits Kiziba Estates Limited against Sir Henry Morgan & Associates Limited, with both companies laying claim to the land. The matter is before the High Court in Lugazi, which has issued interim orders restraining the parties from interfering with the disputed property and evicting occupants pending the determination of ownership.
The latest arrests have heightened tensions in the affected communities, with residents questioning why ordinary occupants are being caught up in a legal battle they say is beyond their control.
Mr Kenneth Musamali, a resident of Lugala, accused security personnel deployed on the land of imposing restrictions that have disrupted daily life in the villages.
“In our villages, it feels as if we are under another government. We are under lockdown and are heavily restricted. Even to fetch water from the water source, we first have to seek permission. Even when we want to dig, we must get permission from the group of men deployed in our villages,” he said.
Mr Musamali further alleged that residents were beaten whenever they were found carrying out activities on the land without permission.
“They move around the entire villages. If they find anyone doing anything on the land without their permission, they gather around that person and beat them. There is fear in our villages,” he said.
Ms Marion Kamusiime, a resident of Muyiyibwe, appealed to the government to clarify ownership of the land, saying residents had become victims of a dispute involving powerful interests.
“As innocent residents and bibanja owners, we have been dragged into issues that are beyond us. The young men who were arrested had gone to work and earn a living. Someone simply going to make Shs10,000 has ended up being arrested,” she said.
The residents want the government and security agencies to protect their homes, gardens and livelihoods until the court makes a final determination on the ownership of the property.
Police confirm arrests
Police spokesperson Assistant Superintendent of Police Hellen Butoto confirmed that 10 suspects were being held in police cells over the disputed land.
She said the suspects had been found on land that is the subject of an ongoing ownership contest.
The police statement comes amid reports from residents that the number of people arrested had risen to 20 following operations by police and army personnel on the disputed property.
The residents subsequently gathered at Lugazi Police Station to demand explanations for the arrests, arguing that the matter was already before court and that the occupants should not be subjected to intimidation while the legal process continues.
“We are suffering despite the fact that the matter is in court,” one resident said.
Another questioned why people who were not parties to the ownership dispute were being subjected to arrests and restrictions.
Court injunctions
The latest confrontation follows a ruling by Lugazi High Court Assistant Registrar Ms Dorothy Kyampaire in Miscellaneous Application No. 79 of 2026, in which the court issued an interim injunction restraining the parties from dealing with the disputed land pending further proceedings.
Kiziba Estates Limited had asked the court to restrain officials of Sir Henry Morgan & Associates Limited, the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Land Registration from selling, renting, subletting, leasing, mortgaging or otherwise dealing with the suit land.
In her ruling, Ms Kyampaire also barred the respondents and their agents from forcefully or unlawfully taking possession of the property.
The court further ordered that the respondents, their agents, servants and anyone claiming under them must not evict or threaten to evict bibanja holders, or interfere with them on the disputed land, pending the hearing and determination of Miscellaneous Application No. 78 of 2026 for a temporary injunction, or until further orders of the court.
“I find that the Applicant has made out a case for the grant of an interim injunction. The application is accordingly allowed,” the registrar ruled.
The order is intended to preserve the disputed property and protect occupants while the court considers the competing claims. It is an interim measure and does not constitute a final determination of ownership.
*Arrests*
However, days after the ruling, three men identified as Ramon Hakim Rugumayo, Eriabu Kewaze Mwanje and Kenneth Kakumba were arrested and subsequently arraigned before the Lugazi High Court over allegations relating to the sale and occupation of land claimed by Sir Henry Morgan & Associates Limited.
According to court documents, Mr Rugumayo was accused of unlawfully occupying 130 acres allegedly belonging to Sir Henry Morgan & Associates Limited without permission on January 21, 2016. Mr Mwanje and Mr Kakumba were accused of selling and unlawfully occupying land allegedly belonging to the company.
The accused have disputed the allegations through their lawyer, Mr Roland Kokas Odinga of Waymo Advocates Law Firm, who described the charges as trumped-up and linked them to the ongoing ownership dispute.
“We know that these are fictitious charges, in which they have slandered our clients. But the whole purpose of these fictitious charges is that there is a dispute over land. And that land is already a matter in this court, in the High Court, where ownership is disputed,” he said.
Court proceedings indicate that Mr Mwanje, aged 73, was granted bail, while Mr Rugumayo and Mr Kakumba were remanded to Luzira Prison until Thursday. The subsequent arrests of other residents and security guards reportedly brought the total number detained to 20, although police confirmed holding 10 suspects in their cells.
