Uganda: Katanga Land Dispute – Man Remanded Over Criminal Trespass
Court has sent a city businessman, Richard Kigozi to Luzira Prison on remand over alleged criminal trespass in regard to fencing and constructing on part of the Kibanja comprised in Katanga Valley land near Wandegeya.
The Magistrates Court at Kanyanya, Kawempe Division remanded Kigozi until August 7 2025 when the case comes up for ruling on his bail application.
Kigozi presented four people among them his wife, Viola Caroline Nampebwa to stand for him as sureties citing ill health.
Presiding Magistrate, Roseline Nsenga warned relatives and friends to the accused person to desist from going to her chambers claiming that they want to talk to her. She advised them to go through the accused person’s lawyer.
“I will not accept to be pressured or influenced on how to handle this matter. I do not know the accused person, he has presented too many sureties which means I need time to evaluate them before giving my decision, so understand my situation,” Nsenga said.
The court decision followed Kigozi’s denial of any wrong doing in regard to accusations of criminal trespass.
Prosecution alleges that between 2022 to July 2025, Kigozi trespassed on Kibanja located at Busia Ward in Wandegeya Parish, Kawempe Division Kampala city without the consent of the owner, Danile Walugembe.
State Attorney, Bruce Konjere objected to the bail application stating that they are ready to prosecute the case very fast since investigations are complete. He noted that for court to release the accused person would jeopardize the case.
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He also told court that cases of criminal trespass in Kampala city are on rise and that by releasing the accused person on bail will prove to other people who wanted to grab people’s land that it is easy to commit the crime and be released on bail.
Kigozi is one of the 100 people who vainly challenged Pr Walugembe’s ownership of Kibanja on Katanga Valley land.
In 2019, the court dismissed with costs a case in which Dr Ntwatwa and 99 others, among them Kigozi had sought to challenge Walugembe’s interest in the said Kibanja which was never appealed.
Records show that the High Court in two cases of 2000 and 2017 decreed that the Kibanja in dispute belongs to Walugembe.
In 2015, the High Court ruled that the Katanga Valley land occupied by four family members and their licensees, were now bonafide occupants whose rights are well protected under the laws governing ownership of land.
The four family members are Jonathan Yosamu Masembe, Bulasio Buyisi, George Kalimu and Samalie Nambogga. They were battling with Makerere University and the Commissioner for Land registration over cancellation of their Land titles and ownership of the land by Makerere University.
However, Makerere University has since appealed against the decision faulting the High Court in a matter pending hearing and determination before the Appeal Court.
The court has since also dismissed with costs, an application in which Makerere University had sought injunctive orders against Katanga residents from developing or alienating their bibanja/ bonafide tenancies.
