For many Ugandans, buying land is more than a transaction — it’s a dream fulfilled. But for dozens of people who bought plots in Konge, Kyadondo, that dream has turned into a nightmare. A recent High Court ruling has thrown their land ownership into serious doubt, raising fears of eviction and financial loss.
At the centre of the dispute is land located on Block 273, Plot 25152 — part of the estate of the late Daniel Nelson George Nkuse Jakana. The land, which has been tied up in a long-running family dispute, was sold to unsuspecting buyers by Daniel Lule Jakana, the deceased’s son, through a company called Star Control Limited.
“We bought land, not a court case.”
Many buyers say they had no idea the land was under legal contest. Some have already built homes or started projects, only to learn that the title they hold may not be valid.
In her judgment, Justice Alice Komuhangi Kaukha ruled that the land sales were done fraudulently and without proper authority. She ordered that the titles registered in the name of Jakana Ltd be cancelled, and that the land should revert to the estate of the late Daniel Jakana.
The legal battle began when several members of the Jakana family, including Beatrice Kagga Nalongo and Williams Jakana Rosemary, took Daniel Lule Jakana to court. They accused him of mismanaging the family estate and illegally transferring land without the consent of other family members or the court.
The inventory listing the estate’s assets was filed 16 years late and excluded co-executors without explanation.
The claim that the land had been repossessed by the Buganda Kingdom was false.
The land was deliberately left out of Daniel Lule’s original probate application but later included in the sale — an act the court found to be disho
The judge ruled that the land in question — Block 273, Plot 2694 — was clearly part of the late Daniel Jakana’s estate as stated in his will. Therefore, it could not legally be sold without following due process.
She ordered the Commissioner for Land Registration to:
Remove the caveat placed by Beatrice Kagga Nalongo,
Cancel the title issued to Jakana Limited,
And restore the land to the Jakana family estate.
Additionally, the court declared that the probate letters granted to Daniel Lule Jakana and his co-executor were fraudulently obtained and will not be renewed.
This decision has sent shockwaves through the community of landowners at Konge. Many are now uncertain about their future, unsure if they’ll be forced to leave the land they bought and invested in.
Some had taken out loans to buy the plots. Others have built family homes. For them, the court’s ruling feels less like justice and more like betrayal.
“We followed the process, we paid our money, and we trusted the seller. Now they’re saying the title is fake?” said one frustrated buyer, who asked not to be named.
Legal experts now advise the affected buyers to seek urgent legal advice and explore negotiations with the legitimate administrators of the estate. But for many, it’s a painful and costly lesson about the importance of verifying land ownership — especially when family estates and probate are involved.
