Court to rule in October on Hoima AFCON roads compensation case
Rev. Denis Murungi, Danuel Denis Mutatina, Dan David Businge, Robert Ntegeka, Musa Amanya, Ester Irumba and Florance Asaba filed the case at the Hoima High Court on behalf of 30 project-affected-persons (PAPs) on July 16.
Some of the affected residents and landlords recently posing for a photo with Hoima city officials after a consultation meeting on the Hoima AFCON project. (Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi)
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The High Court in Hoima has set October 27, 2026, to deliver its ruling in a case filed by people affected by the roads project for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), who are seeking compensation for their land.
The case was heard on September 8, 2026, in the chambers of Christine Namutebi, the assistant registrar at the Hoima High Court in Hoima city.
Rev. Denis Murungi, Danuel Denis Mutatina, Dan David Businge, Robert Ntegeka, Musa Amanya, Ester Irumba and Florance Asaba filed the case at the Hoima High Court on behalf of 30 project-affected-persons (PAPs) on July 16.
The government selected a 34km road network connecting Hoima City Stadium for upgrading from murram to tarmac at a cost of sh213b in preparation for AFCON, to be co-hosted with Kenya and Tanzania.
The roads include Dr Rujumba Road, 1km; Mparo Bypass, 10km; Hoima City-Kyarwabuyamba-Bulinda-Kyarwiru, 6.4km; Masindi Road Division, 1.5km; and Mparo Bypass to Stadium Masindi, 2.3km, among others.
The PAPs rushed to seek court intervention to ensure that they are compensated for land affected by the project.
Speaking to the press after meeting the registrar, Dan David Businge, the chairperson of the PAPs along the Kyarwabuyamba-Kyedikyo-Kyakabuubi-Bulinda-Kyarwiru road leading to Hoima City Stadium, said that as PAPs they were happy that their case had been heard.
He said some residents' land had already been encroached on, adding that they hoped the court would rule in their favour.
Businge said that, as residents, they were not against the project but needed the Government to compensate them for taking over their land.
He noted that Article 26 of the 1995 Constitution protects the right to own property and explicitly provides for the right to fair and adequate compensation in cases of compulsory land acquisition.
He noted that they decided to seek court redress after engaging Government officials, including Hoima City Council officials, but no decision was reached.
Daniel Denis Mutatiina said it is illegal to use someone's land without first seeking permission from and reaching an agreement with the landlord.
He added that several people have plots measuring 50 by 100 feet and that Hoima City Council does approve building plans on plots of less than 50 by 100 feet. He noted that giving out their land for the project without compensation would be a big loss on the side of the landlords.
However, efforts to get a comment from Christine Namutebi, the assistant registrar at the Hoima High Court, were futile as she declined to speak to the press.
Hoima city mayor Edward Isingoma said that the project has no compensation component and called on those who have not consented to give the right of way for the project to do so for the good and development of their area.
He noted that Hoima city has 641km of roads but only 25km are tarmacked, adding that upgrading the 34km from murram to tarmac is a big relief and a major achievement.