Entebbe, Uganda – Eight individuals have been arraigned before the Entebbe Magistrates Court on charges of forcible entry, forcible detainer, malicious damage to property, and theft.
The suspects, including Sserungaya Alex Mukisa, Kajubi Peter, Ddungu Henry, Nnaku Ramanthan, Kaweesi Godfrey, Ngesa Robert, Mukiibi Asuman, and Mugweri Joseph, were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force in Entebbe and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
According to the charges, the suspects unlawfully entered a 68-acre plot of land located on Block 428, Plot 192 (formerly Plot 22), which belongs to Professor Eleanor Maxine Ankrah. They destroyed 18 acres of trees and crops and maliciously damaged property on the land.
The prosecution alleges that the suspects acted under the instructions of alleged bibanja (tenant) owners, including Lutaaya William, Nnalongo Kaita Bakumba Winfred, Kalenzo Edward, Osowa Anthony, and Robert Kayigwa.
These bibanja holders had entered into a consent agreement in the High Court that stipulated the complainant would identify the 18 acres to be shared among them. However, on February 8 and 9, 2025, before the complainant could show them their designated portions, the same group, led by Ssebagula Aaron, a former convict with a history of land grabbing and fraud, forcibly entered the land, cut down crops and trees, which they sold to unknown buyers.
The Anti-Corruption Unit quickly responded to the incident, took action, and arrested some of the individuals involved. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend Ssebagula and his associates.
The court has remanded the eight suspects until February 28, 2025.
