The State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja, has been drawn into a land dispute concerning 23 acres of land located at Ochieng 1 Village, Nansana municipality, Wakiso District.
The controversy follows complaints from the daughters of the late Daudi Ochieng, who claim that the land, which is their family inheritance, was fraudulently sold without their consent. They further allege that the buyer proceeded to petition the President of Uganda regarding the property, identifying one Charles Lulyo Balaba as the seller.
Speaking to the press, Linda Ochieng, one of the daughters of the late Daudi Ochieng, explained the family’s history. She said that after their father’s death, his estate was divided among the children. She and her sister were bequeathed the land in question through their late mother. However, upon returning from abroad, they were shocked to find that the land had been sold and is now occupied by tenants.
However, the occupants on the ground, led by Joseph Kamya Bukenya, have a different story. They claim to have legally purchased their plots from Charles Lulyo Balaba through official channels. The tenants, who say they have lived on the land for over 18 years, expressed surprise at Linda Ochieng’s attempts to evict them.
In response, Linda Ochieng insists that the current occupants must either negotiate to buy the land properly or vacate immediately. She maintains that her family has suffered greatly and that the land was their rightful inheritance from their late father.
Meanwhile, the more than 200 tenants have refused to pay any additional fees, stating that they already paid for their land a long time ago. Their position is backed by the Buganda Land Board Limited, which claims ownership of the land. Minister Sam Mayanja has since weighed in on the legal arguments, stating that legally, the land does not belong to the purported sellers.
In his directive, Minister Mayanja ordered the tenants to remain on their plots. However, he also urged them to cooperate with Linda Ochieng to secure proper land titles. He further instructed that the process be facilitated by a special committee chaired by the Wakiso Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Justine Mbabazi, with a deadline of 60 days to resolve the matter.
“I have also directed the RDC of Nansana, Charles Lwanga, to immediately begin an investigation into the activities of Charles Lulyo Balaba and the people he worked with in the illegal sale of this land,” Minister Mayanja added.
In response, RDC Charles Lwanga accepted the task and pledged to help the residents ensure justice is served without unnecessary legal delays.
