Entebbe, Wakiso District – A contentious land dispute in Entebbe, Wakiso District, is raising alarm over illegal trespass by state corporations, whose vehicles have been stored on land at the center of a legal battle. The land, which was rented to garage owner Cliff Kibeedi, is now the subject of a high-profile case involving claims of unlawful occupancy and resistance to rightful ownership.
Kibeedi, who operates Mech Plus Engineering, a garage that services vehicles for several state parastatals such as the National Medical Stores (NMS), Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and Uganda Airlines, had rented the 100 by 50-foot piece of land from Christine Kijjambu starting in November 2017. The tenancy agreement, which was set to expire in November 2020, was extended without the landowner’s consent, despite Kijjambu’s hospitalization following a stroke.
According to sources, while Kijjambu was incapacitated, Kibeedi and the woman called Racheal Mubiru, who had earlier introduced him to Kijjambu, allegedly took advantage of the situation and extended the tenancy agreement first to 2023, and later to 2028, without involvement of the rightful landowner. Court documents now in the High Court Commercial Division show that Kibeedi alleged that Mubiru was Kijjambu’s caretaker. Kijjambu’s lawyers are surprised that Kibeedi preferred to deal with a caretaker to enter a legal agreement and use his wife and garage workers to witness the illegal dealings. When Kijjambu recovered, she sold the land to Charles Nsubuga to cover her medical expenses. Nsubuga’s efforts to take possession of the property were met with resistance from Kibeedi, who remains on the land.
The situation has escalated with the involvement of state corporations whose vehicles were parked on the disputed land by the time we followed the story. Matters were made worse by the Deputy RDC Entebbe, Hakeem Kiriggwa, working on the orders of the said Kibeedi and some of the state corporations, who swore that Nsubuga would only take the land over his dead body. The garage run by Kibeedi is used to service and repair vehicles belonging to these parastatals. This raises serious concerns about illegal trespass by the state entities, as they are operating on land without the consent of the rightful owner.
According to Ugandan laws, a land caretaker cannot enter into lease agreements or make any transactions on the land without the explicit written consent of the owner. However, Kibeedi’s continued occupancy of the land—now further complicated by the presence of government vehicles—has made the situation even more contentious. Legal experts argue that the involvement of state corporations in this illegal occupation could have far-reaching consequences, as it suggests a level of complicity in the trespass. Nsubuga’s lawyers insist that they will seek redress against State agencies which continue to park their vehicles on his land even beyond the part that is under contention.
The matter has also raised concerns about potential political influence and interference. Reports indicate that the Entebbe Sub-District Deputy RDC, Hakeem Kirigwa, has been associated with the case, prompting fears that the issue is not just a civil matter but also one involving local government complicity. He called an area security committee meeting to discuss a case that was in Court which caused Nsubuga to lodge a complaint with the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the President. Efforts to involve the police and secure the rightful owner’s access to the land have been met with resistance, as law enforcement has refused to act, which some sources suggest may point to a possible collusion between the illegal occupant and law enforcers.
The case is now under litigation in the High Court Civil Division, where the issue of trespass by state corporations has taken center stage. Legal arguments are being made that not only has Kibeedi overstayed his tenancy, but that the vehicles of state corporations, which have been serviced and stored on the disputed land, are contributing to the unlawful occupation and using Nsubuga’s land as parking space without any consideration.
The court’s decision in this case could have significant implications for how land disputes involving state-owned entities are handled in Uganda, especially when government interests are involved. As Kijjambu and Nsubuga await a legal resolution, the case continues to highlight the complexities of land rights and the responsibility of state corporations to ensure that their operations do not contribute to unlawful land occupation.
As the legal proceedings unfold, questions remain about the accountability of state corporations and their role in this illegal trespass. The matter is now a point of scrutiny, not just for the parties involved, but for the broader issue of land rights and governance in Uganda.
