Wakiso, Uganda: The High Court Criminal Division has sentenced notorious Wakiso-based land grabber Charles Kyagaba to eight years in prison after finding him guilty on multiple fraud and property-related offences that for years terrorized residents across Entebbe and parts of Wakiso District.
Kyagaba was handed two consecutive four-year jail terms on two counts of obtaining money by false pretences, bringing the total sentence to eight years.
The sentencing follows his conviction last week on a string of criminal charges including malicious damage to property, fraudulent procurement of land titles, criminal trespass, assault, and forcible entry.
Court heard that Kyagaba, together with accomplices still on the run, spent years fraudulently claiming ownership of land belonging to residents in Entebbe and surrounding areas before illegally selling the disputed properties to unsuspecting buyers.
According to prosecution, the group operated an elaborate network of fraudulent land transactions that left several families displaced, financially ruined, and entangled in endless court battles.
The case against Kyagaba dates back to 2022 when he was arrested following widespread public outrage and numerous complaints from residents accusing him of orchestrating fraudulent land schemes in Wakiso District.
The arrest was conducted jointly by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Investigations at the time revealed that Kyagaba had become one of the most feared figures in Wakiso land wrangles, with his name repeatedly appearing in disputes stretching back more than two decades.
Earlier reports indicated that the accused allegedly exploited weaknesses within the land administration and justice systems by using ghost claimants, questionable court injunctions, and fabricated bibanja tenancy claims to seize contested properties.
Some victims previously claimed that attempts to seek justice were frustrated by alleged protection networks and manipulation within security and legal systems.
One of the earlier complaints that led to Kyagaba’s prosecution involved allegations that he and accomplices maliciously destroyed a house belonging to a woman identified as Margaret Kyomuhangi after claiming the land belonged to him.
The case became symbolic of the broader land grabbing crisis that has continued to plague Wakiso District, one of Uganda’s fastest urbanizing regions where rising land values have fueled violent disputes, fraud, and illegal evictions.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, land-related fraud and property disputes remain among the leading drivers of civil conflict and criminal complaints in rapidly expanding urban districts such as Wakiso, Kampala Metropolitan, and Mukono.
Kyagaba’s conviction is now being viewed as a significant breakthrough in Uganda’s fight against organized land fraud, especially after years of accusations that powerful land grabbers often evade prosecution despite overwhelming complaints from victims.
However, authorities say investigations remain ongoing to trace and apprehend Kyagaba’s alleged accomplices who are still at large.
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