The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court decision cancelling a land title held by retired UPDF officer Maj. Gen. Elly Kayanja and his wife, Jennifer Kayanja, over allegations of fraudulent acquisition of land in Wakiso District.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Florence Nakachwa, the appellate court found that Kayanja took advantage of vulnerable residents to fraudulently acquire the land, which measures 53.64 hectares (132.5 acres) located in Kabulengwa.
The court heard that Kayanja and his wife were appealing a High Court ruling that had earlier ordered the cancellation of the title after it was found to have been obtained illegally.
Justice Nakachwa stated that Kayanja approached the residents under the pretext of helping resolve a land dispute between them and one Miriam Kikomeko.
However, the court found that he later collaborated with Kikomeko to have himself and his wife registered on the land title.
“The first appellant availed himself to the respondents under the disguise of assisting them to solve the dispute… but instead turned around to connive with Miriam Kikomeko in order to procure registration himself and the second appellant,” Justice Nakachwa noted.
She further ruled that Kayanja directed the residents to vacate the land while claiming ownership and insisted on purchasing it even after being informed that Kikomeko had no authority to sell it.
The court concluded that these actions amounted to dishonesty and abuse of trust.
The case was originally filed in 2009 by six residents of Kabulengwa—Mudiima Issa, Kyendo Ahmed, Mayambala Henry, Walakira Deo, Matovu Michael, and Muzula Abdul—who argued that they were lawful occupants of the land.
They sought cancellation of the title, a permanent injunction restraining the Kayanjas, and general damages.
In its final orders, the Court of Appeal directed the cancellation of the land titles held by Miriam Kikomeko and the Kayanjas, and ordered Maj. Gen. Kayanja to pay the costs of the appeal.
By Edith Namwanje
5th June 2026
End