By Mulengera Reporters
President Yoweri Museveni’s secretary Phiona Barungi has sparked public debate after a viral TikTok video showed her furiously confronting a Muganda elder accused of denying a deceased man’s children access to their family graveyard amid a bitter land dispute.
In the trending video, Barungi, dressed in a black outfit and guarded by a Special Forces Command (SFC) officer, addressed residents during a tense meeting over contested family land. Speaking in a mixture of Luganda and English, she condemned the elderly woman allegedly blocking family members from visiting and maintaining the burial grounds (Okulima ebijja) of their late relative.
Barungi questioned why some Baganda had become “heartless,” arguing that graveyards hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in Buganda. She contrasted this with Ankole traditions, where, according to her, communities often bury loved ones wherever they are settled before later relocating.
“Baganda respect graveyards so much,” Barungi said in the video. “How can a Muganda stop children from accessing their parents’ graves and think there will be peace?”
The presidential aide went further to accuse the woman who is neither seen nor named in the video of inviting spiritual misfortune upon her family, claiming the deceased’s spirits could continue tormenting her household because of the ongoing conflict.
Barungi also revealed that local authorities, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), could recommend investigations into the disputed land title. She warned that the Ministry of Lands might cancel the ownership documents if irregularities are discovered.
“We may return to the Ministry of Lands and cancel the land title, leaving you with nothing,” she warned, urging the accused elder to change her stance before legal action is taken.
She added that she intends to pursue investigations through the Ministry of Lands and even the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to establish the rightful ownership of the property.
The video has since generated mixed reactions online, with some social media users praising Barungi for defending family rights and cultural values, while others criticized her harsh tone and remarks directed at the elderly woman. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
