Manyago Housing Estate residents in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District, find themselves embroiled in a contentious issue as they accuse local authorities of leasing their land to a third party without their consent and in violation of a court order. The estate, home to over 500 people, faces the looming threat of eviction following allegations that municipal authorities leased the land in question.
The controversy stems from a court order issued on July 16, 2020, permitting Entebbe Municipal Council to lease the land or plots at the Manyago Housing Estate. However, this court order was issued through a consent judgment between the municipal council and the tenants, establishing certain conditions for the leasing process.
According to Stanley Okecho, a lawyer representing the residents, his clients contend that the municipal council created a lease involving a third party on the disputed land, contrary to the agreement outlined in the consent judgment. The court order mandated the government to value the land and determine the appropriate fees that occupants would pay.
Documents obtained reveal a series of correspondences between municipal authorities and the chief government valuer regarding the valuation of the land. Despite repeated requests for valuation, delays persist, raising concerns among the residents and their legal representatives.
In a surprising turn of events, a search report from the lands ministry indicates that the land was leased to Bugembe Kaggwa Ssegujja for a period of 49 years, starting January 20, 2023. This lease arrangement, which reportedly involved a premium payment of Shs20 million and an annual rent of Shs100,000, appears to contradict the consent judgment reached with the sitting tenants.
Ssegujja, the beneficiary of the lease, maintains that he obtained the lease legally and urges the complainants to seek recourse through the court system. However, residents and their legal representatives argue that the lease to Ssegujja, dated March 2011, predates the consent judgment and raises suspicions of fraudulent activity.
