Builders remanded over demolition of a Ntinda house

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Six people have been remanded to Luzira Prison by the Kampala Capital City Authority – City Hall Court on charges of aggravated robbery following the demolition of a private residence in Ntinda. The accused are Julius Lukwago, Hussein Kato, Peter Okello, Umar Kateregga (driver), Hussein Ochen, and Godfrey Bahati.

Three builders, two masons, and one driver—all residents of Kira Municipality in Wakiso District — appeared before Grade One Magistrate Rehema Nassozi on Monday on charges of aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit a felony. The court heard that on January 5th, 2024, at Ntinda 2 in Kampala District, the accused robbed Simon Eliba Orech of his possessions—a smartphone (Infinix Smart 6 Bonko), a tablet valued at 1.2 million Shillings, and 83,000 Shillings in cash.

They allegedly used deadly weapons, such as machetes and hammers, during or immediately before/after the robbery. Some of their accomplices are still at large. Due to the capital nature of the charges, the accused were cautioned against pleading to the charges as the City Hall court lacks jurisdiction to try them. If found guilty, the maximum punishment for aggravated robbery is death.

The arrests were made by detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit amid a land dispute between Yusuf Ssemakula and Simon Eliba Orech. The disputed property in Ntinda was demolished in the early hours of last Friday. Lawyer Allan Mukiibi claims that the remanded individuals are employees of his client, Yusuf Ssemakula, the rightful owner of the contested land.

He alleges that Orech and his associates are leveraging political influence to interfere with the judicial process. Court records indicate that the land in question was lawfully sold to Ssemakula by Mutwalib Kabogoza. Despite multiple investigations confirming Ssemakula’s ownership, Mukiibi argues that external forces are fabricating charges against his client’s employees, emphasizing that one cannot trespass on their land.

The records also document several adjudications and court decisions favoring Ssemakula’s ownership, including a judgment by Justice Andrew Bashaija in 2017, dismissing Orech’s case and confirming Ssemakula and Kabogoza as rightful owners. Additionally, Justice Kenneth Kawumi Kazibwe’s decree in September 2020 affirms Kabogoza’s lawful ownership of the land, which he sold to Yusuf Ssemakula.

This legal standing is contested by Simon Orech, claiming his demolished house was on this land. According to court documents, the land’s history involves ownership transitions from Sulait Semakula to Mutwalib Kabogoza, then to Steven Mulondo, followed by Salongo Seruwaji, and eventually to Yusuf Ssemakula. All have faced and won legal battles against what they describe as land grabbers.

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