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Maverick lawyer Male Hassan Mabirizi has reignited his legal battles with the Kabaka (king) of Buganda, with the latest being a case where he claims mass registration exercise for official mailo land settlers, is illegal.

According to court documents, registration and ground rent (busuulu) collection, starts on October 1, 2023. 

The lawyer, has, therefore, filed an application of temporal injunction seeking orders, restraining Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi and their agencies including the Buganda Land Board from conducting mass registration and collecting ground rent from official mailo land settlers.

He also seeks to block the Kabaka from carrying out any activity portraying them as registered owners of official mailo land registered in their names pursuant to Article 246 (3) (a) of the Constitution, including imposition of registration at a fee and collecting 10% charge of the sale value of land/kibanja on the said land.

Mabirizi filed the application against the Kabaka and the Attorney General at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

In 2022, Mabirizi petitioned the court challenging the actions of the Kabaka in holding out as registered owners of official mailo land registered in their names.

“The Kabaka of Buganda and Buganda Land Board are launching contempt of court because there is a constitutional petition challenging their actions because they are trustees with no powers to collect busuulu,” he contends.

Despite the petition, Mabirizi states that the respondents have continued with their activities and have announced a mass settlers’ registration and collection of ground rent.

“If the application is not granted, there is an imminent danger of the respondents continuing with mass settlers’ registration and ground rent collection before determining the petition,” he states.