Secure the Ground Beneath You, Bishop Eggesa Warns Churches Amid Land Grabs

The Bishop of Bukedi Diocese, Rev. Samuel Bogere Eggesa, has urged all churches under his jurisdiction to urgently secure and formalise ownership of their land, warning that failure to do so could result in widespread loss to encroachers and land grabbers.

Speaking at a landmark ratification ceremony at All Saints Church in Asinge, Tororo, Bishop Eggesa stressed that church properties—particularly land and buildings—must be surveyed, titled, and gazetted to protect them from being reclaimed, even by the very families that once donated them.

“We have started witnessing families that once donated land to churches coming back to reclaim it,” the bishop said.

“Since most of this land lacks official titles, the church ends up losing it. I am saying all church land must be surveyed, titled, and gazetted, including houses.”

The bishop’s remarks reflect a rising wave of land disputes across Uganda, many rooted in untitled land donations made decades ago.

Churches, which often received land as gifts from devoted families, are increasingly finding themselves vulnerable as descendants of original donors return—sometimes under pressure from speculators or family divisions—to contest ownership.

Addressing a congregation gathered for the official recognition of 45.4 acres donated over a century ago by the late Erinesit Siwu, Bishop Eggesa also extended his land security message to the general public.

He warned that as Uganda’s population surges, land conflicts will worsen if families fail to document their holdings.

“In 1962, Uganda had only 8 million people. Today, we have around 50 million, yet the land remains the same,” he said.

“Now, brothers are killing brothers, children are killing their parents over land. Kindly secure both church property and your own family land.”

The Siwu family, represented by spokesperson Joel Emojong, reaffirmed their commitment to preserving their ancestor’s legacy.

“We are aware that this land could be grabbed in the future—not necessarily by our descendants, but by outsiders,” said Emojong.

“The old man gave this land to bless the church, and in the same spirit, we want that blessing to continue.”

Area leaders welcomed the family’s reaffirmation, noting the broader potential for development when land tenure is secure.

Tororo County South MP Fredrick Angura described the donation as a springboard for long-term investment and vision.

“This 45-acre donation gives us the opportunity to think bigger—possibly even having a university here,” Angura said.

“With a titled church property, the government will also be in a better position to extend development here, since it struggles to invest where land ownership is unclear.”

The bishop’s rallying call comes at a time when Uganda continues to grapple with an escalating land crisis, marked by disputes, displacement, and violence.

Legal ambiguity, population growth, and commercial interests have converged to make land one of the country’s most contested resources.

By urging churches to set the example, Bishop Eggesa positioned the Church not only as a spiritual refuge but also as a guardian of stability, stewardship, and foresight.

The move to formalise land ownership, he suggested, is about more than property—it is about protecting the future.