Court stops Minister Mayanja from interfering with engineer's property

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The Court of Appeal has issued an order, stopping lands state minister Sam Mayanja from interfering with Eng. Ndawula Edward Kaweesi’s land in Kiboga district.

The land in dispute comprises plots 23, 33, 19, 34 and 20 located at Kyato, Sesa, Kasega, Kapeke and Kyetume, Kagobe, as well as Budimso, all in Kiboga district.

On August 15, 2024, Mayanja held a meeting in Kiboga district, Kapeke sub-county, Kasega LC1, in respect to the engineer's property and directed the Resident District Commissioner, together with the District Security Committee, to resettle alleged Bibanja holders whom the engineer and Mutasa Sseba evicted.

However, in a ruling dated November 24, 2025, Justice Ketrah Kitariisibwa Katunguka issued an order restraining Mayanja and the Attorney General from altering, occupying or destroying the suit properties.

“A temporary injunction is hereby issued against the respondents, their servants, assigns and agents, restraining them from altering, occupying or any form of destruction or waste of any part of the suit properties, until the civil appeal is determined,” she directed.

According to the judge, the status quo of the property may be changed, and the damage resulting from the resettlement of over 300 bibanja holders on the suit property shall be irreparable, rendering the engineers’ appeal nugatory if successful.

The judge said since the land is registered in the engineer’s name, who alleges to have owned the property for 30 years, he is bound to suffer more inconvenience than the respondents and bibanja holders.

“Transactions in the land can take place in the shortest time possible; and once land changes hands, recovering it, if and after ownership has been established, may not be easy,” Katunguka noted.

She also observed that where one is operating a farm on the land, the welfare of the animals may not be assured unless any further activity is halted until the appeal is determined.