Mubende, Buganda Kingdom land row intensifies

The disputed land is located at Kaweeri Village East Division in Mubende Municipality where both headquarters for Buganda and district are situated on the same land.

BUBENDE | Local government authorities in Mubende have said Buganda Kingdom does not own land at the district headquarters in Kaweeri contrary to claims by the Mengo establishment.

Mubende District Chairman Michael Ntambi that says they have obtained a title deed on the same piece of land.

The district has also seized royal buildings and has refused to vacate the kingdom property, said Immaculate Nantaayi Kafeero, the Buganda's representative for Buwekula County.

During the end of year district council meeting recently, Ntambi was forced to clear the air on the land question after councillors demanded answers following several conflicting reports on the ownership of the said land.

"We are all lost at sea about the ownership of this land, Mr Chairman," said Samuel Mayanja, a councillor for East Division.

"Please clarify on this matter because we have been hearing allegations that the district is a tenant on Buganda's land."

Ntambi assured the councillors that the land is owned by the district and not Buganda Kingdom.

The disputed land is located at Kaweeri Village East Division in Mubende Municipality where both headquarters for Buganda and district are situated on the same land.

Chairman Ntambi's claims prompted the Kabaka's representative in Buwekula County, Nantaayi, to complain to the Buganda's Premier Charles Peter Mayiga during his visit to Buwekula while assessing the progress "mwanyi teriimba programme."

The Katikkiro urged the people of Buwekula to remain calm, saying no one will ever defeat Buganda.

He cited an example of Obote who abolished Buvanda Kingdom and after words he was exiled and Buganda regained it's properties.

In an exclusive interview with Nile Post, Nantaayi expressed fears over eviction threats from the district local council.

She said it is well known that Buwekula headquarters at Kaweeri were constructed in 1948 before Mubende District came into existence.

"I grew up knowing that this is Buganda land and Kaweeri was the centre for more five counties whose people used to convene here," she said.

"Secondly, Kabaka's house was constructed in 1946-1948 before the existence of Mubende District."

Nantaayi said Mubende has some royal buildings that were seized after Obote overthrew the kingdom and that at that time the district used fraud and moved to Buwekula headquarters and the authorities have still failed to return the buildings to Buganda.

"The district is operating in more than two buildings owned by Buganda but they never pay rent," she said.

"We have tried several times to write to them demanding our buildings but all in vain."

Chairman Ntambi could not be readily reached on his known mobile phone numbers to respond to Nantaayi's claims of defaulting rent and history of the contested land.

The Buwekula palace in Kaweeri sits on ​​20 acres of land. Mubende District is claiming the entire acreage.