Property Dealer runs to Court to stop UPDF from building on controversial Wakiso land

By Elizabeth Ankunda

12^th Sept 2022

Property dealer Frank Matovu Ssenkwajju has run to the High Court Land Division for a temporary injunction restraining the Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UDPF from erecting buildings on a contested piece of land in Kitala in Wakiso District.

In his application filed through his lawyers led by Denis Wabwire, Ssenkwajju, says that UPDF has started erecting temporary structures on the land with a view of depriving him yet he is the registered proprietor.

In April 2022, Matovu petitioned the High Court Land Division claiming that he purchased the contested land in 2018 from Christopher Musisi, Diana Birungi, and Bernard Kiwanuka, and transferred it into his name in 2022.

The land under contention is comprised of Plot 1035, 1039, and 1040, all in Kitala Wakiso District.

He noted that on March 9, 2022, UPDF soldiers encroached on his land without his knowledge, consent, or approval and fenced off part of it. He says that UPDF has since denied him access to the land.

Through his lawyers of Sanywa, Wabwire, and Company Advocates, Matovu informed the High court that all his attempts to evict the army from the land have been futile.

He asked the court to order the army to vacate the disputed land and issue a permanent injunction restraining the government and its agents, and employees from trespassing on his land.

He also asked the High court to order the government to compensate him for the damages caused at a commercial interest rate of 20 percent.

This morning, Matovu returned to the court seeking a temporary injunction.

He told the High Court Land Division Registrar Janeva Natukunda that on September 5th, 2022, UPDF soldiers started erecting temporary structures on his land with a view to depriving him of using it.

Wabwire says that soldiers are threatening to sell off part of the disputed land to Captain Joseph Obera Onyango without his consent or approval.

The evidence before the court shows that on September 6th, 2022 Matovu called Onyango on his phone and reportedly informed him that he cannot stop him from acquiring that land and this will cause Matovu to suffer irreparable damages should this application fail.

The Attorney General who was represented by State Attorney, Johnson Natuhwera asked the Court to dismiss the application on grounds that the land belongs to the UPDF and not Matovu as he claims.

Natuhwera notes that no damage will be caused to Matovu because the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs-MODVA/UPDF occupied the land in 1987 and set up a school of Political Education.