Hoima businessman Abdul Malik Mugisa has been arrested on the orders of the State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja over a land dispute in Lenju village, Bombo sub-county, Hoima district.
Mugisa, along with his former driver Hakim Hairora, is accused of forgery and falsifying documents related to land ownership.
The arrest followed a meeting convened by Minister Mayanja to address a long-standing dispute involving Mugisa, former Lands Commission chairperson Beatrice Byenkya Nyakaisiki, and local residents.
The contested land—five square miles previously owned by the late Noah Byenkya Kasigwa, Nyakaisiki's late husband—has been the subject of tension for four years.
Mugisa claims that in 2016, Kasigwa compensated him with two square miles of land after his grader, valued at Shs 600 million, was burned down by locals.
Mugisa subsequently registered the land title under Hairora’s name, fearing legal complications with the Uganda Revenue Authority.
However, as Mugisa attempted to open up the land boundaries earlier this year, resistance grew from both locals and Nyakaisiki, who rejected his claim after her husband's passing.
Hoima District officials, including RDC Rodgers Mbabazi and Chairman Uthuman Mugisha, joined Minister Mayanja in attempting to mediate the dispute.
Tensions escalated in May, with reports of houses being burned and locals fearing eviction. Community leaders petitioned the minister’s office for intervention.
During the meeting, Hairora admitted to having been misled by Mugisa into registering the land in his name and pledged to renounce his ownership.
This confession prompted Minister Mayanja to order Hairora’s immediate arrest for falsifying court documents. Mugisa was later allowed to speak, but his statements were inconsistent, leading the minister to direct police to arrest him as well.
Minister Mayanja assured the residents that no evictions would be carried out and directed the district security committee to investigate the legitimacy of the land titles.
“We will not allow people to misuse court orders to evict our people,” Mayanja stated.
He emphasized that land title cancellation is a legal process, but he called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter within a month.
Mugisa and Hairora were subsequently taken to Hoima Central Police Station and will face charges of forgery, altering documents, and threatening the local community.