Business at Iganga High Court was paralyzed for over an hour on June 11, 2025, after Pastor Goreti Kubona broke down in protest following a court decision that dismissed her appeal seeking to reclaim land taken over by her paternal uncles.
Kubona had sued her uncles, Henry Tanaziraba and Muwaya Batwaula, accusing them of forcefully occupying 10 acres in Bupaala village, Buyaga Subcounty, Bugweri District—land given to her by her late father, Zevi Tirulaga.
Grade One Magistrate Ivan Busulwa had earlier dismissed her case in 2022, ruling that because her father died in 1994 and the suit was filed decades later, it was outside the allowable legal time frame.
The magistrate also noted Kubona had not acted to stop her uncles’ use of the land until filing the suit.
Dissatisfied, Kubona appealed to the High Court, but Justice David Batema upheld the magistrate's decision, ruling the appeal was also out of time and ordered her to pay Shs3.9 million in costs to the defendants.
Following the ruling, Kubona protested loudly, accusing her uncles of seizing her land because she is a woman.
The disruption halted court business for over an hour. Police removed her from the courtroom, though she continued shouting from outside, drawing more officers to calm the situation.
Kubona pleaded for local NGOs to provide legal aid, revealing she survives by washing clothes and cannot afford a lawyer.
Efforts to verify the land ownership locally revealed support for Kubona’s claim.
The village chairman Mahadi Kakaire confirmed the late Tirulaga had declared the land belonged solely to Kubona before his death.
Local residents and leaders called for government intervention to provide legal support, emphasizing the challenges Kubona faces without representation.
Attempts to reach the defendants’ lawyer were unsuccessful, and the defendants declined media comment.
This case underscores the difficulties vulnerable litigants face in land disputes, especially without legal assistance.
