HOIMA — A TV10 Ganomazima investigation has brought renewed attention to a contested 25,000-acre land holding in Hoima District, with allegations surrounding land ownership, court-ordered evictions, the return of occupants and the presence of UPDF personnel on the disputed property.
The investigation heard allegations that Maj Gen Daniel Kakono of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Hoima Resident District Commissioner Rogers Mbabazi became involved in the land matter after allegedly being promised portions of the property.
According to estate administrator Daphine Byangine, Mbabazi and Kakono were allegedly expected to receive about 200 acres and 300 acres respectively.
The allegations have not been independently established, and responses from the two officials to the specific claims were not available in the material reviewed.
Byangine further alleged that residents occupying the land had previously been ordered by courts of law to vacate the property following legal proceedings over ownership.
She claimed, however, that the occupants later returned after intervention by former State Minister for Lands Dr Sam Mayanja.
According to Byangine, Mayanja had received what she described as misinformation about the dispute and subsequently directed the occupants to return to the land. She further alleged that Mayanja told the parties he would return to address the matter, but left the Lands Ministry before providing further guidance.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged court orders, the ministerial intervention and the legal status of the occupants remain matters requiring verification through court records and official documents.
The investigation also featured Shadrack Nzaire, identified as one of the alleged landowners and described as a brother of President Yoweri Museveni.
Nzaire reportedly said he acquired his portion of the land lawfully and possesses documents supporting his ownership claim.
He reportedly expressed concern after finding UPDF soldiers on the property, questioning why the military was involved in what he regarded as a civilian land dispute.
According to the investigation, Nzaire raised the matter with Maj Gen Kakono, who reportedly said he was still waiting for instructions from former minister Sam Mayanja.
Kakono reportedly indicated that Mayanja had promised to get back to them on the matter. However, according to the account presented by TV10, Mayanja subsequently left the ministry without providing the expected follow-up, while UPDF personnel allegedly remained on the disputed land.
The investigation further reports that Maj Gen Kakono said he had formally informed his superiors about the land matter through letters.
According to the account, Kakono said the matter was communicated to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) as well as the commander responsible for land-related matters within the UPDF.
The reported communication raises questions about how the military leadership responded to the dispute and whether any formal instructions were subsequently issued regarding the presence of soldiers on the property.
Kakono also reportedly said that the soldiers would be deployed to the police station, rather than continuing to directly handle the land dispute.
It remains unclear from the material reviewed whether the proposed deployment was eventually carried out and what specific role the soldiers were expected to perform at the police station.
Byangine also alleged that residents on the disputed property had faced arrests and intimidation by security personnel.
She made further serious allegations of sexual violence involving members of the security forces.
The allegations have not been independently verified and would require investigation by the relevant authorities.
The claims come against a wider background of land disputes in Hoima involving residents, landowners and security personnel, including previous cases in which UPDF officers were accused by residents of involvement in disputed evictions.
The investigation has consequently raised questions over the circumstances under which the military became involved in the land dispute and whether any formal government directive authorised its presence.
It has also raised questions about whether the occupants were legally required to leave the land under existing court orders and whether the subsequent directive for them to return was consistent with those orders.
Other issues requiring clarification include the ownership documents for the estimated 25,000 acres, the alleged allocation of land to the two officials, the reported correspondence between Kakono and his military superiors, and the circumstances surrounding the continued presence of UPDF personnel.
The allegations involving Maj Gen Kakono, RDC Mbabazi, UPDF personnel and former minister Sam Mayanja remain allegations and should not be treated as established facts unless supported by court records, official investigations or other independent evidence.
The investigation has nevertheless placed the Hoima land dispute back in the spotlight, particularly over questions of land ownership, enforcement of court decisions and the appropriate role of security agencies in civilian land matters.
