By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Over 1,200 plot owners in Satellite City Estate, Bujjuko, have petitioned President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in a protracted land dispute involving Retired General Henry Tumukunde, who is accused of frustrating efforts to transfer ownership titles to the buyers.
The dispute arises from a 200-acre land transaction initially between Gen Tumukunde and Jomayi Property Consultants Ltd, who later sold plots to individual buyers. Thirteen years after the sale, the title remains under Tumukunde’s name.
In documents seen by Parrots Media, the estate owners accuse Gen Tumukunde of refusing to honor a consent judgment requiring payment of UGX 1.3 billion to release the title. Instead, he is reportedly demanding UGX 2 billion and has allegedly threatened illegal eviction and subdivision of the land.
The Satellite City Estate-Bujjuko Association, representing the tenants, claims that despite efforts to mobilize the UGX 1.3 billion, Tumukunde has rejected the payment and is now charging individual plot owners directly, demanding deposits into his personal account within 30 days.
Through their lawyers, Lawbridge Advocates, the tenants have warned that any attempt to alter the land’s registration without proper legal procedures will be challenged in court. They have also accused some land officials of colluding with Tumukunde to illegally subdivide the land.
“Our clients are victims of a failed transaction and have already suffered financial losses,” the letter reads in part. “Any further attempts to frustrate the settlement will be met with legal action.”
The association says it intends to pay the UGX 1.3 billion by July 2025 and has asked Tumukunde to cooperate to avoid further litigation.
“Our interest as plot owners arises from the failure of Jomayi and Tumukunde to resolve their disputes. We should not be treated as squatters or land grabbers on property we legally purchased,” the estate committee stated.
It has been 13 years since the buyers acquired the plots, but they remain without titles, severely slowing development. About 150 homes have been constructed, housing an estimated 600 residents, who now live under fear and intimidation.
The petitioners appealed to the President to intervene, describing the situation as economic sabotage against ordinary Ugandans who invested their savings in the estate.
“We beg H.E, the President of the Republic of Uganda to come to our rescue. His Bazzulu are being tormented and economically disabled for the lack of land titles for their legally purchased land with their hard earned money,” said one of the petitioners who preferred anonymity.
Efforts to get a comment from Gen Tumukunde by press time were unsuccessful.
