Court dismisses justice Oguli's land case

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The High Court has dismissed a land case filed by former High Court judge Margaret Oguli Oumo over disputed land measuring 3.5280 hectares in Bukedea County, Bukedea district.

In its judgment, the Land Division of the High Court presided over by Justice Dr Christine Echookit on May 11, 2026, declined to grant orders, including declarations of ownership, cancellation of the land title, vacant possession, permanent injunction, mesne profits(compensation), general damages, and interest.

Oumo and Derrick Oumo had sued Charles Obukongori Opiko, seeking a declaration of ownership and cancellation of the certificate of title because the land belongs to them and the defendant occupied it illegally.

The court noted that Obukongoriopiko’s certificate of title for the suit land comprised in Freehold Register Volume HQT 102 Folio 8 Block (Road) 5 Plot 264 remains valid and unimpeached.

“The plaintiffs having failed to prove fraud or any lawful basis for cancellation, the defendant’s certificate of title to the suit land remains unimpeached,” the court ruled.

Court records show that the case was initially filed on November 3, 2009, in Kumi Grade One Magistrate’s Court as civil suit number forty-three of 2009 before it was later transferred to the High Court Land Division in Kampala and renumbered civil suit number fourteen of 2011.

The retired High Court Judge Oumo had sought declarations that they were the rightful beneficial owners of customary land comprising nine gardens located at Kachaboi Village in Kachumbala Parish, now Bukedea district.

They also alleged that the defendant fraudulently processed and acquired a certificate of title for the land and unlawfully registered it as Block (Road) 5 Plot 264 Kachaboi in the names of Obukongori John Kokas.

Oumo had further sought orders for cancellation of the title, eviction of the defendant from the land, a permanent injunction, general damages for trespass, and mesne profits from 2008.

Oumo had alleged that Obukongori Opiko fraudulently procured the land title during the pendency of the suit by entering the land in 2008 despite being aware of their interest in it, conducting a survey without involving neighbouring landowners, submitting false information, and registering the land under inconsistent names.

She had also argued that whereas the land title bore the name John Kokas Obukongori, identification documents reflected the name as Charles Obukongori Opiko, which they claimed demonstrated fraud. However, the court found that Oumo had failed to prove allegations of fraud against the defendant and dismissed the suit.

“The plaintiffs’ prayers for declaration of ownership, cancellation of certificate of title, vacant possession, permanent injunction, mesne profits(compensation), general damages, and interest are all hereby dismissed. The plaintiffs having failed to prove fraud or any lawful basis for cancellation, the defendant's certificate of title to the suit land comprised in Freehold register volume HQT 102 Folio 8 Block (Road) 5 Plot 264 measuring approximately 3,5280 hectares, Bukedea county, Bukedea district, remains unimpeached,” Echookit said.