Mukono, Uganda: The Mukono Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded two suspected notorious land grabbers over the alleged forceful eviction of occupants from a 311-acre piece of land in Mukono District, where property and crops worth approximately Shs1 billion were reportedly destroyed.
The suspects, Kayongo Boniface and Kisekka Hamuza, were arraigned following a joint investigation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
They face multiple charges, including malicious damage to property, destroying growing plants, forcible entry, and forcible detainer.
According to the State prosecution, the offences were committed between October and November 2025 in Luwunga Village, Nama Sub-county, Mukono District.
The two denied the charges before the Mukono Chief Magistrate’s Court and were remanded pending further proceedings.
Prosecutors allege that Kayongo, Kisekka and other suspects still at large unlawfully entered land comprised in Block 167, Plot 81, Kyaggwe, measuring approximately 311 acres.
Court heard that the land is legally registered in the name of Stella Kiwanuka, acting as the administrator of the estate of the late Joseph Musanze Kiwanuka.
The accused are alleged to have violently taken possession of the land before destroying property belonging to the lawful occupants.
Property worth Shs1 billion destroyed
The prosecution further alleges that the suspects stole four metallic water tanks and water pumping machines before causing extensive destruction on the property.
Among the damaged property were four residential houses.
Investigators also accuse the suspects of uprooting and destroying large quantities of crops, including maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, banana plantations and eucalyptus trees.
The total value of the destroyed property and crops is estimated at approximately Shs1 billion.
Authorities say investigations are continuing to trace other individuals believed to have participated in the alleged land-grabbing operation.
The recent prosecution in Mukono forms part of the government’s intensified campaign against land grabbing, illegal evictions and fraudulent land transactions across the country.
In recent years, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working jointly with CID, the ODPP and other security agencies, has increased investigations and prosecutions targeting individuals accused of illegally occupying private land, forging land documents and carrying out violent evictions.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has on several occasions directed security agencies to strengthen enforcement against individuals involved in illegal land evictions while protecting lawful landowners and occupants.
The accused persons were remanded until July 22, 2026, when they are expected to return to court as investigations continue.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
