Museveni steps into Mulago land dispute

President Museveni has intervened in a long-running dispute between businessman Samuel Brian Ssegawa and Dr Charles Lugero over contested property near Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.

The dispute over Kibuga Block 5 Plot 3531, in Kiwonvu Cell, Mulago 2 Ward, Kawempe Division, has produced conflicting decisions by government agencies and the courts, with both men claiming legitimate interests in the property.

The president’s intervention has prompted Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Judith Nabakooba to summon the two parties to scrutinise their documents and establish the status of the land.

“We shall convene a meeting very soon to establish the rightful owners of this land. The President wants us to compensate Ssegawa, but it will only be done if he is entitled to compensation,” Nabakooba said.

The dispute dates back to 2024, when the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) allocated the land to Ssegawa under Minute 13/2024(a)(226). A leasehold certificate of title was subsequently issued in his name as LRV KCCA 619 Folio 9, Kibuga Block 5 Plot 3531.

Mulago National Referral Hospital protested the allocation, arguing that the land formed part of its property and that the hospital, as the user of the land, had not issued a “no objection” to the allocation.

**Title cancelled**

In a letter dated February 6, 2026, the ULC informed the Commissioner for Land Registration that it had rescinded the allocation and requested cancellation of Ssegawa’s title. The Commissioner issued a notice to the registered proprietor and scheduled a hearing for June 4.

Before the hearing could take place, a presidential directive issued in April ordered the immediate cancellation of the certificate. The Commissioner cancelled the title on May 20 under Instrument No. KCCA-0016990.

Ssegawa challenged the decision in the High Court, arguing that the cancellation was unlawful. On July 7, the court quashed the cancellation and ordered that his title be restored within 30 days.

Ssegawa maintains that he is a legitimate kibanja holder on the property and says he is ready to present his documents.

“It’s unfortunate that the President was given wrong information. I’m ready to present my documents to support my ownership,” he said.

He denied that the land had been unlawfully allocated to him, insisting he holds legitimate interests in the property.

Competing claims

Ssegawa has also accused Dr Lugero of interfering with his business, saying building materials placed around his structure have affected the operation of his pharmacy.

Dr Lugero, who holds a title to the land, has developed a high-rise building on the property that is still under construction. He says Ssegawa has blocked access routes to the building, making construction and access difficult.

“There is no way you can have a plot in Kampala without an access road. My concern is that Ssegawa’s structure be removed,” Dr Lugero said.

Kiwonvu Cell chairperson Seviri Kawooya said both men have ownership claims, adding that Ssegawa acquired his plot in 2008.

“Each of them has ownership of their plots. I made the land agreement when Ssegawa was buying during that time,” Kawooya said.

Nabakooba orders access restored

Nabakooba has directed that building materials blocking access to Ssegawa’s business be removed while the parties await the meeting. She also instructed both men to present their land documents and other evidence to help establish their ownership and occupancy claims.

The meeting is expected to bring Ssegawa and Dr Lugero together as the ministry examines their competing documents and seeks to establish the lawful status of the property.