Buganda kingdom has announced it is taking legal action against state minister for lands , Sam Mayanja over what it termed as defamatory remarks against it and the Kabaka.
The kingdom’s Attorney General, Christopher Bwanika said on Wednesday that the kingdom seeks legal redress against the minister’s statements and actions, particularly his directives issued during a public hearing at Kaazi on March 4, 2025.
“The Kingdom of Buganda has instructed its external lawyers to take legal action to challenge Hon. Dr. Sam Mayanja’s declarations, statements, and actions, particularly the meeting of March 4, 2025, at Kaazi. These actions are in contempt of court and disregard the law, and we seek legal relief for the Kingdom,” Bwanika said.
The decision by Buganda Kingdom follows Minister Mayanja’s recent pronouncements regarding the ownership of Kaazi land.
During the public hearing, Mayanja ordered that the land be returned to the family of the late Kabaka Daudi Chwa II, arguing that it was a private estate and not part of the kingdom’s official land.
He further instructed the Commissioner of Land Registration to rectify land records by removing the registration of the Kaazi land under the Kabaka of Buganda and instead restoring it to the administrators of Daudi Chwa’s estate.
“The registration of the Kaazi land in the names of the Kabaka of Buganda was illegal. The land was initially freehold, later altered to private mailo, then re-entered as official mailo, and eventually transferred to the Kabaka of Buganda. However, as the review indicates, the land is private mailo belonging to the estate of the late H.H. Daudi Chwa,” Mayanja asserted.
Additionally, the minister directed that 100 acres of the land be allocated to the Uganda Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Association in accordance with the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Act. He stated that this move would align with legal provisions and the Deed of Donation made by Daudi Chwa II.
In a separate directive, Mayanja ordered the deregistration of the Buganda Land Board Limited and its sister company, the Buganda Land Fund Ltd, declaring that they had no legal authority over land transactions.
“I direct the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Buganda Land Board Limited, which was registered in 2015 as a private company, misleadingly passing itself off as the 1962 statutory body set up under Section 118 (1) (b) and (3) of the Uganda Independence Act 1962. A private company cannot be a successor in title to a statutory body. I also direct that its sister company, the Buganda Land Fund Limited, be deregistered. The directors of these companies are directed that, by operation of law, they cease any dealings in land transactions,” Minister Mayanja declared.
In response, the Buganda Kingdom told journalists that Minister Mayanja’s claims are baseless, insisting that Kaazi land, located on Block 273, Plot 5, is part of the 350-acre estate allocated to the Kabaka of Buganda under the 1900 Buganda Agreement.
The land title was created on June 22, 1923, initially registered under FC 18454 and later recorded in the Mailo Register Volume (MRV) 269, folio 25. When the block and plot system for mailo registration was introduced, it was registered under the name of H.H. Chwa II.
Buganda Kingdom further explained that in 1948, the Kabaka leased the land to the Uganda Scouts Association for a 49-year term strictly for scouting and camping activities. The lease, registered under instrument number 81336 in leasehold register volume LRV 236, folio 7, prohibited subdivision or subleasing of the land.
Following the 1966 attack on Lubiri and the exile of Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II, the central government abolished kingdoms and confiscated their estates, including the Kabaka’s mailo land. This land was placed under the Uganda Land Commission under Article 108 of the 1967 Constitution.
Buganda Kingdom maintains that the land was legally returned to the Kabaka under the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act of 1993 and is currently managed by the Buganda Land Board.
The kingdom also accused the Uganda Land Commission and the Scouts Association of engaging in illegal land dealings by creating multiple subleases without the Kabaka’s consent. The Kabaka successfully petitioned the Commissioner of Land Registration, leading to the cancellation of these unauthorized lease titles.
In 2020, the Kabaka won a court case against Prince Kalemeera and others who falsely claimed ownership of the land, further affirming that the land rightfully belongs to the Kabaka.
Buganda Kingdom emphasized that Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II did not personally own Kaazi land but held it in his official capacity as Kabaka. The land was passed on to his successor, Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II, and is now under the reign of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.
“It is important to note that Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II did not own the Kaazi land in his personal capacity. He held it as Kabaka. This land was passed on to Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II and is now held by Kabaka Mutebi II. While Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II owned some land personally, such land was registered under the name ‘Daudi Chwa,’ not ‘H.H. Chwa II.’ The title ‘H.H.’ (His Highness) is exclusive to the Kabaka,” the kingdom noted.
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