By Aggrey Baba
As a luganda proverb goes, “A reckless runner who does not watch his steps will eventually fall into a pit.” Hon. Dr. Sam, Mayanja, the state Minister for lands, has for long tested the patience of the Kingdom of Buganda, but his latest actions have pushed the limits too far.
Following his recent meeting at Kaazi on March 4, 2025, where he made declarations disregarding court rulings, the Kabaka has now instructed his legal team to take him to court. The Kingdom asserts that Mayanja’s continued interference with Buganda’s land affairs is not only unlawful but also a direct act of contempt against the judiciary.
At the heart of this dispute is Kaazi land, Block 273, Plot 5, which has been the subject of various false claims despite clear legal rulings affirming that it belongs to the Kabaka in his official capacity.
This land, part of the 350 acres allocated to the Kabaka under the 1900 Buganda Agreement, was leased to the Uganda Scouts Association in 1948 for scouting and camping purposes. However, following the 1966 attack on Lubiri and the subsequent abolition of kingdoms, the central government confiscated the land and placed it under the Uganda Land Commission.
In 1993, Mengo asserts that, the land was legally restored to the Kabaka under the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act. However, in a blatant act of disregard, the Uganda Land Commission and the Scouts Association unlawfully subdivided and subleased portions of it without the Kabaka’s consent.
The Kingdom successfully petitioned the Commissioner of Land Registration, leading to the cancellation of these illegal lease titles. In 2020, the Kabaka won a court case against Prince Kalemera and others who had falsely claimed ownership of Kaazi land. The ruling confirmed that the land has always been held in trust for the Kingdom and not as private property of any individual Kabaka.
Despite these undeniable legal victories by the King of Buganda, Minister Mayanja has continued to stir controversy, making statements that contradict settled judicial decisions. The Kingdom of Buganda has now decided that enough is enough and is determined to hold him personally accountable before the law.
At his Wednesday media engagement, the Buganda Kingdom Attorney General Christopher Bwanika, flanked by publicist Dennis Bugaya and other officials, urged the public to disregard what he termed misleading claims about Kaazi land. He stressed that the facts remain that the land belongs to the Kabaka, protected by law as has consistently been corroborated by courts of law. As legal proceedings commence against Sam Mayanja, it is evident that those who ignore the truth will eventually face the consequences. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
