Citizenship query in Watoto 179-acre land dispute

KAMPALA - A lawyer has ignited controversy, saying an American-based, Ugandan-born claimant, Dr Fredrick Njuki, should not claim ownership of a 179-acre land in a dispute with Watoto Church.

The land is in Block 143, Plots 50, 52, 58, 74, and 79 at Lube and Block 145, Plots 35 and 36, land at Sekomangwa in Kakiri, Wakiso district. 

Njuki seeks a court declaration confirming his 50% stake as the lawful and equitable owner of the land.

When the hearing of the case resumed on Thursday,  July 17, 2025, lawyer Ronald Oine requested that Njuki present a certificate of dual citizenship (Uganda and USA) during cross-examination.

Oine stated that since Njuki claimed to have been given a mailo land, proof of his dual citizenship and passport was necessary.

However, Njuki’s lawyer, Francis Tumwesige, objected to Oine's request, stating that every time a new judicial officer is involved in the case, Oine raises the same issue.

Tumwesige explained that the applicant inherited the land from his late father, Eric Gganja Kiyuba Njuki via a Will, to be shared equally between Steven Ian Nsubuga and Njuki.

He added that some of the documents the lawyer is requesting are not in Njuki's possession.

Justice Dr Christine Akello Echookit of the Land Division of the High Court said proof of Njuki's dual citizenship certificate and passport is required to proceed with the case.

This prompted her to adjourn the matter to October 16, 2025, to allow Njuki to present the documents.

The case

Court documents show that in June 2012, Njuki filed the case, alleging that Watoto Childcare Ministries, a non-government organisation (NGO), acquired 179 acres of contested land in Kakiri, Wakiso district, without proper due diligence.

Njuki claims the church fraudulently purchased the land from his brother, Steven Ian Nsubuga, who did not possess it, using forged documents to complete the sale.

Despite warnings about the allegedly fraudulent transaction, the NGO reportedly tried to take possession of the land.

Njuki sued Watoto along with his brother Ian Nsubuga, Ann Nsubuga and the Commissioner for land registration, alleging fraudulent dealings involving land that originally belonged to their late father.

Defence

In rebuttal, Watoto said in 2010, it identified the said land which was desired for purchase, visited and opened boundaries and that all plots comprising the land was verified and found to exist with no squatters save for one Esau Lwanga, who was on Block 143 Plot 50.

The church said it conducted searches at the Land Registry in regard to the suit land, and all the plots were in the name of Ian Nsubuga.

Watoto contends that on September 28, 2010, Ian Nsubuga compensated the squatter, Lwanga.