Kabaka Inspects Disputed Buganda Kingdom Land in Jjeza Amid Encroachment Claims

Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has visited a disputed 402-acre Buganda Kingdom land in Jjeza, Mpigi District, to assert ownership and address alleged encroachment and illegal claims amid an ongoing land dispute.

Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has visited a disputed Buganda Kingdom property in Jjeza, Mawokota County, Mpigi District, following reports that individuals had attempted to encroach on and claim ownership of parts of the land.

The estate, located on Block 18, Plot 23, spans approximately 402 acres and is officially registered under the Buganda Kingdom. The visit comes several months after the Kingdom raised concerns over alleged illegal activities on the land and initiated steps 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 installed on the property, cautioning the public against trespassing, purchasing, or occupying the land without authorization.

Despite these warnings, Mengo officials say some individuals ignored the notices and continued to assert ownership claims over sections of the estate.

The Jjeza property has recently been at the center of a land dispute involving allegations of overlapping and irregularly issued titles covering portions of the estate. Earlier this year, the Buganda Kingdom announced that it had filed caveats and petitioned land authorities to investigate and cancel what it described as unlawfully created titles affecting parts of the land.

According to Mengo, the estate is part of its historic holdings and was among assets 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 repeatedly cautioned potential buyers against acquiring land within the disputed area, warning that any transactions made while ownership issues remain unresolved could lead to legal complications.

The Kabaka’s visit is expected to reinforce the Kingdom’s stance on safeguarding its land from encroachment and illegal occupation, as legal and administrative processes continue to address the dispute.

The inspection also underscores the growing challenge of land conflicts in central Uganda, where competing claims, fraudulent titles, and unauthorized occupation continue to trigger disputes involving individuals, institutions, and cultural entities.