MPIGI — Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has toured a contested Buganda Kingdom property in Jjeza, Mawokota County, Mpigi District, following reports that individuals had attempted to encroach on and claim ownership of portions of the land.
The estate, located on Block 18, Plot 23, measures about 402 acres and is registered under the Buganda Kingdom.
The visit comes months after the Kingdom raised concerns about alleged illegal activities on the property and moved to protect it through legal and administrative channels.
During the inspection, the Kabaka was accompanied by David Kintu Wasajja, Kingdom Attorney General Christopher Bwanika, legal representatives of the kingdom and officials from the Buganda Land Board.
Warning signposts had previously been erected on the property cautioning members of the public against trespassing, purchasing or occupying the land without authorization.
However, Mengo officials say some individuals ignored the notices and continued to assert ownership claims.
The Jjeza estate has been the subject of a recent land dispute involving allegations of overlapping titles on portions of the property. Earlier this year, Buganda Kingdom announced that it had lodged caveats and petitioned land authorities to investigate and cancel what it described as irregularly created titles covering parts of the estate.
According to Mengo, the land forms part of its historic properties and was among assets that were returned following the restoration of Buganda Kingdom properties that had been confiscated by the state after the abolition of kingdoms in 1967.
Kingdom officials have previously warned prospective buyers against acquiring land within the disputed area, arguing that any transactions conducted while ownership disputes remain unresolved could expose purchasers to legal complications.
The Kabaka's visit is expected to reinforce the Kingdom's position on protecting its land from encroachment and illegal occupation while ongoing efforts continue to resolve the dispute through the relevant legal and administrative processes.
The inspection also highlights the growing challenge of land conflicts in central Uganda, where competing claims, fraudulent titles and unauthorized occupation continue to generate disputes involving individuals, institutions and cultural entities.