A long-running land feud in Mukono District has escalated into a major criminal case after two men were arraigned before the Mukono Magistrate’s Court on allegations of destroying crops, demolishing houses, stealing property worth millions of shillings and forcibly occupying contested land belonging to the estate of a deceased landowner.
Boniface Kayongo, 36, a resident of Lugala in Kampala, and Hamuza Kisekka, 43, of Kiwedde, were remanded to Kauga Prison on Tuesday after appearing before the Mukono Grade One Magistrate Gerald Emwong to answer seven criminal charges linked to the disputed land at Luwunga Village in Mukono District. Court heard that the suspects committed the offences between October and November 2025 on land comprising Kyaggwe Block 167, Plot 81, which is claimed by the estate of the late Joseph Kiwanuka.
The dou was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which has in recent years intensified investigations into alleged land grabbing and fraudulent transactions across the country. According to the charge sheet presented in court, Kayongo, Kisekka and several accomplices who are still at large allegedly embarked on a campaign of destruction targeting crops and developments on the disputed land. Prosecution told the court that in the first three counts, the accused wilfully destroyed extensive food and cash crops belonging to different occupants of the contested land.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspects destroyed banana plantations, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, tomatoes, eucalyptus trees and other naturally growing trees belonging to Tooli Paul, Kiwanuka Moses and Kayongo Abbas. The prosecution further alleged that the destruction extended beyond crops.
In one of the most serious counts, the accused are said to have demolished three residential houses belonging to Stella Kiwanuka Bernadetta, the administrator of the estate of the late Joseph Kiwanuka. Court documents also implicated the suspects in stealing four metallic water tanks valued at approximately Shs25 million and a water pumping machine worth about Shs10 million.
The final charges relate to the manner in which the land was allegedly taken over. Prosecutors contend that the accused, accompanied by a group of people, forcefully entered the suit property, graded the land and unlawfully took possession despite knowing it belonged to the beneficiaries of the late Kiwanuka’s estate.
They are further accused of remaining in occupation of the contested land in circumstances likely to cause a breach of the peace. Appearing for the State, Senior State Attorney Christine Ayebare informed the court that investigations had been completed but requested additional time to organise witnesses and prepare the matter for trial. The defence immediately sought bail, arguing that the accused had already spent a lengthy period in police custody and were entitled to temporary release pending trial.
Although Magistrate Emwong agreed that the offences are bailable under Ugandan law, he deferred the bail application hearing until July 22, 2026, ordering that the accused remain on remand at Kauga Prison. Before being led out of court, Kayongo challenged the prosecution’s case, accusing the State House Anti-Corruption Unit of falsely implicating him in the dispute. He appealed to the court to independently establish the truth, insisting that the charges brought against him were unfounded. The matter returns to court on July 22, 2026, for the bail application hearing-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
