By Rashid Atukunda
KAKUMIRO – State Minister for Works Fred Byamukama and three other individuals have been dragged to the High Court over allegations of attempted land grabbing in Kakumiro District.
The other defendants named in the suit are Lawrence Bazaala, Raphael Yombo, and Dickson Musiimenta.
According to court documents seen by this publication, Evarist Asiimwe Cool filed a civil suit against the four, accusing them of attempting to take over his land located in Kyakatera Village, Kakindo Sub-county, Kakumiro District.
The summons, issued by the High Court in Hoima on May 13, 2026, and received on May 21, 2026, direct the defendants to file their defence within 15 days from the date they were served.
Part of the court summons states:
“The above-named plaintiff has instituted a suit against you upon the claim, the particulars of which are set out in the attached plaint. You are hereby required to file a defence within fifteen days from the date of service of these summons. Should you fail to file a defence within the prescribed period, the plaintiff may proceed with the suit, and judgment may be entered against you in your absence.”
A source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, alleged that Evarist Asiimwe and Dickson Musiimenta had jointly purchased the land from Lawrence Bazaala. According to the source, the land was later titled and was expected to be shared between the two buyers.
The source further claimed that Musiimenta later sold his share to Raphael Yombo, while Asiimwe began developing his portion of the land.
The same source alleged that there was an attempt to deprive Asiimwe of his land, claiming that Minister Byamukama and Yombo were acting together in the dispute. The source further alleged that the minister had previously expressed interest in acquiring the land and had at one point offered UGX 800 million for it, but the transaction was never completed.
The allegations made by the source have not been independently verified.
Court records further indicate that Lawrence Bazaala is also involved in a separate legal case against the Commissioner of Land Registration and Fred Byamukama, seeking the cancellation of a land title.
In addition, Minister Byamukama is reportedly facing another separate court case involving allegations of land grabbing in Nyansimbi LC1, Bitembo Sub-county, Kakumiro District.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Minister Byamukama were unsuccessful, as repeated phone calls to his known contacts went unanswered by the time of publication.
