(Wakiso) – Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda inspected the Kaazi camping site in Wakiso district on October 22, 2024, to address ongoing land ownership disputes.
The visit was intended to update the Kabaka on recent developments regarding the land wrangles that have frequently made news headlines. Dennis Bugaya, the legal manager and spokesperson for the Uganda Land Board, shared this information with the media.
The Kabaka’s presence in Busabala and Kaazi excited local residents, who quickly shared photographs and videos of his convoy on social media. This public appearance followed a period of limited visibility for the Kabaka after returning from a medical trip to Namibia. Since his return, the only public images had been taken upon his arrival at Entebbe International Airport on July 22 and during a tour of Mengo Palace in Kampala the previous month.
Close associates of the Kabaka indicated that his doctors had advised him to take a break from his regular duties. Notably, on August 21, 2023, he officiated at the opening of the 31st sitting of the Buganda Lukiiko, the Buganda parliament.
During the inspection of the Kaazi land, Bugaya, along with Ashraf Kizito, the Executive Secretary of the Uganda Scouts and Guides Association, and other officials, guided the Kabaka through the area. The land in question was allocated to the Scouts and Guides Association in 1948 for scouting and camping purposes. However, it has been reported that the terms of the lease were recently violated.
Bugaya explained that the Kabaka has been closely monitoring the situation at Kaazi, which is why he decided to conduct this visit. Israel Kazibwe, the Minister of Information and spokesperson for Buganda Kingdom, emphasized that the inspection is a positive step towards resolving the ongoing controversy, asserting that the land must serve its intended purpose.
Sources from the Buganda Land Board revealed that approximately 50 acres of land, including a forested area, had been improperly sold to private developers. Bugaya stated that the Buganda Land Board petitioned the Commissioner of Land Registration to annul the titles that had been improperly issued to various land developers.
On August 14, 2024, the Commissioner of Land Registration canceled 11 titles associated with the land located on Kyadondo Block 273, Plot 5. This decision attracted significant attention from the public and some government officials. The cancellations were aimed at preventing further insecurity and chaos surrounding the land, which has plagued the area since the beginning of the year.
One of the canceled sub-leases involved Serena Heights Kaazi Ventures Ltd and Sky and Lakes Ltd. The Commissioner ruled that these sub-leases were invalid as they were not issued in accordance with the law. It was noted that no consent was obtained from the lessor before the creation of these sub-leases, rendering the titles liable for cancellation due to having been issued in error.
