Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu has been sued over allegations of unlawful demolition and land grabbing, alongside Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who has clarified his involvement in the case.
Ham, as he is popularly known, has been sued over alleged land grabbing and unlawful demolition of property owned by Namex Ministries Limited.
Court documents show that Kiggundu was sued alongside Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, as well as Kampala District Land Board, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and local company Kiham Enterprises Uganda Limited.
The lawsuit, filed by Moses Namatiti through Namex Ministries Limited and lawyers Kintu Nteza & Co. Advocates, alleges that in 2007, the company was approached by Nakivubo Settlement Primary School to partner on construction of sanitation facilities for students, teachers and families. Namatiti agreed on the condition that he would also build commercial structures—including stores, offices and public sanitation facilities—on the west end of the school land adjacent to St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market.
The proposal was approved by KCC through the Senior Principal Town Clerk, who provided design plans, architectural drawings, a bill of quantities, and a letter of commencement for Namex to implement. Namex claims it fully completed the four-storey structures as per KCC specifications, investing in the property from 2007 until March 7, 2026, when Ham Kiggundu allegedly deployed rogue security operatives and machinery to demolish the buildings and loot the merchandise therein.
The lawsuit accuses Kampala District Land Board of fraudulently processing a land title for Deputy Speaker Tayebwa for land that Namex Ministries had occupied and utilized for nearly two decades. The company says the land was not available for leasing to Tayebwa and that the title he holds is therefore null and void.
According to Namex, Kiggundu acted with impunity and greed, carrying out the demolition without following due process. The company is seeking several remedies, including a declaration that it is the lawful owner of plot 22A Nakivubo Road, cancellation of Tayebwa’s certificate of title, and Shs. 5 billion in compensation from Kiggundu for damages caused by the demolition.
The court has summoned the accused parties to file their defence within 15 days of receiving the court documents. “Should you fail to file a defence on or before the date mentioned, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit and judgment may be given in your absence,” the documents state.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa later clarified his involvement in the case, stating that he legally obtained a lease for the Nakivubo plot in 2018. “This was done through the formal and legal processes available to any citizen—I applied, followed the stipulated procedures, and paid all requisite fees,” he said. Tayebwa added that after submitting building plans, KCCA informed him the land was needed for strategic and public purposes. “KCCA then offered to compensate me, which I accepted. They took possession of the land approximately three years ago,” he said.
The case follows the recent arrest of four individuals charged with carrying out the demolition without city authority permission, who were remanded to Luzira Prison.
