BThe Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Kawempe Division, Kagenyi Lukka, has withdrawn the orders he recently issued regarding the disputed Katanga land near Wandegeya.
On Saturday, Lukka convened a meeting at Katanga Playground, attended by local leaders and residents from Busia and Kimwanyi zones, to announce his revised position on the matter.
“Two weeks ago, I met you here to gather your views on the ownership of this land. I issued several directives, including the arrest of my brother, Pastor Daniel Walugembe. However, the Attorney General, the government’s chief legal adviser, pointed me to a judgment by Justice Owiny-Dollo, indicating that my orders were in contempt of court and could expose me to legal action,” Lukka said.
He added that, as a government official, any legal proceedings against him would be handled by the Attorney General, making it necessary to heed that advice and withdraw the orders to avoid unnecessary costs to the state.
Lukka also told residents that his investigations found that Nanziza Construction Company Uganda Limited, which had signed a memorandum of understanding with Makerere University to develop the land, is not a credible entity. He assured tenants that there would be no evictions.
He urged residents to remain on their respective plots and avoid provocative statements, noting that he has submitted proposals to Yoweri Museveni outlining possible government interventions to resolve the dispute between the landlord and tenants.
Among his proposals is for the government to compensate tenants based on the size of their holdings, after which the land could either be returned to Makerere University once vacant or repurposed for public use.
He also suggested a public-private partnership in which a developer would finance the transformation of Katanga into a model settlement with modern housing. Under this arrangement, bona fide tenants would receive condominium titles for agreed portions, while the remaining units would be sold to enable the developer to recover costs.
Another option, he said, would involve the government directly financing the redevelopment using public funds, compensating the landlord and constructing modern housing for legitimate tenants. He emphasized that any solution would be long-term and urged residents to safeguard their land interests.
Thomas Bagonza, a local leader, commended Lukka for acknowledging his earlier missteps and clarifying the situation. He noted that some individuals had been using the RCC’s earlier directive to arrest Pastor Walugembe to mislead residents who had sold their bibanja and attempt to reclaim the land.
“I have served as a leader here for years and witnessed people voluntarily selling their bibanja to Pastor Walugembe, who now owns about 28 acres, while Makerere University’s land title covers 37 acres. It is therefore misleading to claim that he owns the entire Katanga land,” Bagonza said.
The meeting resolved that the RCC should organize another engagement where residents can interact with Pastor Walugembe to clarify the boundaries of his land, as he reportedly holds documentation supporting his acquisitions.
The dispute stems from a March 23, 2026 letter in which Lukka directed Makerere University to hand over the Katanga land to Nanziza Construction Company.
Local leaders contested the directive, accusing the RCC of acting in contempt of court by attempting to overturn a lawful judgment.
“This is to inform you that you do not have any authority whatsoever to vary or overturn the said court order. We, as local leaders, will not allow you to continue breaking the law, disrespecting court orders, and disrupting the peaceful occupation of our residents,” the letter stated, urging Lukka to withdraw his directive or face contempt proceedings.
Records from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) indicate that Nanziza Construction Company Uganda Limited has a share capital of Shs1 million and two shareholders, Denis Jjuko and Henry Kamyuka, each holding 500 shares. The company has reportedly not filed any annual returns since its incorporation in 2011.
