Mbale City, Uganda: A legal dispute over land ownership has intensified in Mbale City after the Bugisu Cooperative Union accused Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Grand Mufti of Uganda, of unlawfully occupying and developing its land in defiance of a standing court order.
The contested property is Plot 73, measuring approximately 73 hectares, located in Doko, Mbale District. According to BCU, part of the land was previously sold by former union leadership to government and now hosts the Doko Industrial Park, while the remaining portion remains legally registered under the cooperative.
BCU maintains that it holds a valid land title for the property, issued on January 27, 1989, documents of which were availed to this publication.
The dispute formally entered court in 2023, when BCU sued Mufti Mubaje at the Mbale High Court under Civil Suit No. 39 of 2023, challenging his claim and occupation of the land.
In Miscellaneous Application No. 216 of 2025, the court issued a temporary injunction restraining both parties from utilising, developing, or altering the land until the substantive suit is determined.
However, BCU now alleges that Mufti Mubaje has disregarded the court order, using the Christmas holiday period to erect structures on the disputed land.
BCU Board Treasurer Mabonga accused the Mufti of leveraging his influence to intimidate local security personnel to facilitate the construction works.
“We respect the office of the Mufti, but the law must apply equally to all,” Mabonga said. “This land belongs to the Bamasaaba community and should be protected. Leaders should lead by example, not defy court orders.”
He added that the cooperative views the alleged developments as an act of land grabbing that threatens community-owned assets built over decades by coffee farmers in the Bugisu sub-region.
Contacted for comment, Mufti Mubaje insisted that he is the rightful owner of the land, saying he purchased it from Nankya, whom he described as a daughter of the late Semei Kakungulu. He declined to comment further, citing the ongoing court proceedings.
The case adds to growing scrutiny over land disputes involving high-profile individuals and community institutions, with observers warning that disregard of court injunctions risks undermining the rule of law.
The Mbale High Court is yet to pronounce itself on the substantive matter as the legal battle over the ownership and use of the land continues.
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