Over 50 families flee to church after violent raids in Lwemiyaga land dispute

SSEMBABULE - More than 50 families from Ntyazo and Kabagalama villages in Lwemiyaga County, Ssembabule district, have fled their homes and sought refuge at St Ann Church after unknown panga-wielding gangs attacked the area, destroying houses and plantations and injuring several people shortly after a UPDF First Division detachment withdrew from the troubled villages affected by a long-running land conflict.

The attack occurred from midday on May 23 into the early hours of May 24, 2026.
Residents said the gang later advanced towards St Ann Church, where displaced families had taken shelter. Field Force Unit (FFU) police intervened and forced the attackers to flee.

Local leaders said some residents returning from a bar were attacked and injured during the violence. Among the injured were Moses Mushabe and Enock Asasirwe, who were reportedly speared during the attack and are currently admitted to Lwemiyaga Health Centre.

Lwemiyaga County MP, retired Gen. Emmanuel Rwashande, said he would table the matter before the 12th Parliament. He added that he had already brought the issue to the attention of President Yoweri Museveni.

Personnel from the Masaka-based Armoured Division Intelligence unit led by Capt. Hudson Kamango, together with officers from the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and police, rushed to the scene and launched investigations.

President Museveni had earlier directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the more than 40-year land conflict at Ntyazo, where close to 100 families have been displaced.

The latest violence comes after gangs allegedly torched houses and injured more than 20 cows after affected families forcefully returned to their homes, a move criticised by Ssembabule resident district commissioner Jane Frances Kagayi, who warned it could worsen insecurity in the area.

Earlier clashes

In February, several people were injured during clashes at Ntyazo after lands state minister Sam Mayanja cancelled a planned locus meeting in the area.

Families displaced by the land conflict forcefully returned to their bibanja on February 7 and 8, 2026, after having been evicted between 2021 and 2022.

The clashes centred on the farm of Vicencio Bagalukayo, who is accused of orchestrating the eviction of more than 100 families from Ntyazo village. His workers allegedly confronted the returning residents, prompting the deployment of anti-riot police and soldiers to prevent further violence.

Displaced families later relocated to St Ann Church, where they took shelter with their families and livestock.

Minister Mayanja had scheduled February 12 for intervention talks involving officials from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, police and other stakeholders. However, residents said they decided to return to the land after learning that the minister had cancelled his visit.

“It was wrong for the affected families to force their way back to the land, which also had other occupants; they should have waited for the lands minister to handle the process. I believe that the mediation was going to create a win-win achievement between the two parties,” Kagayi said.

Kagayi added that the affected residents had previously met President Museveni, who listened to their grievances.

Former Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, who previously spearheaded mediation efforts between the affected communities and landlords, said the conflict had since taken a political direction. (Credit: Dismus Buregyeya)

Umar Kalanzi, one of the affected residents whose house was destroyed during the conflict, blamed authorities for failing to protect residents from eviction.

“There was a directive from IGP to stay execution from Court, the office of the RDC failed to protect the affected families, a matter that has resulted in untold suffering and bloodshed,” he said.

In a letter dated January 27, 2026, addressed to the Ssembabule RDC, minister Mayanja scheduled a locus visit meeting for February 12 at Ntyazo Block 31 Plot 1 and Block 30 Plot 2.

The minister said the visit would also be used to sensitise residents on land rights and presidential directives concerning bibanja holders.

Political tension

Lands minister Judith Nabakooba last year intervened in escalating land wrangles in Ssembabule after violent attacks by suspected criminal gangs in Ntyazo village forced several families to flee their homes.

New Vision has learnt that despite a Supreme Court order staying the eviction, suspected gangs have continued attacking affected families, forcing them to abandon their homes and seek shelter in churches.

Former Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo, who previously spearheaded mediation efforts between the affected communities and landlords, said the conflict had since taken a political direction.

“I bought land from Bagalukayo Mukasa after he defeated the affected people in courts,” he said.

Ssekikubo said he purchased about 180 acres after selling 68 cows. He added that he later negotiated with Bagalukayo to surrender at least 300 acres to the affected community.

“To my surprise some of the community members led by Robert Tayebwa rejected the offer,” he said.

Ssembabule district chairperson Patrick Nkalubo told New Vision that the land conflict could eventually be resolved through a land fund initiative aimed at protecting affected residents from eviction.

Robert Tayebwa is among the claimants involved in the dispute with Bagalukayo before a panel of Supreme Court judges.

On July 22, 2022, the Supreme Court panel ordered a stay of execution of an earlier court order pending determination of a civil application filed by Tayebwa.