The children of the late Kabaka Daudi Chwa have stated that Kigo Prison land on which 

the government prison is situated, does not belong to Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, but to their late father’s family.

In a move likely to split the royal family, the late Kabaka Daudi Chwa's four surviving children now claim that the title to the land possessed by Mutebi was issued in error because the land was their late father’s private property.

It is this contention over the ownership of the said land that has landed the two royal families in court.

Recently Kabaka Mutebi sued government seeking the eviction of prison facility on grounds that government has never paid him a penny for using the land.

Mutebi also seeks over Ushs18bn from government in rent, since 1993 when government returned Buganda's properties to the Kingdom.

Alternatively, Mutebi demands that government makes a formal lease agreement with him if it were not to be evicted from his land.

"The continued occupation of the facility without paying rent, is akin to giving one with one hand and taking away with the other and a negation of the law that returned the Traditional Leaders Properties and Assets," Mutebi affirms in the suit.

Mutebi filed the case at the High Court's Commercial Division through Ssekabojja and Company Advocates.

However, Chwa's children- Princess Edith Nabweteme Kiyumba Chwa and Prince Daudi Ssimbwa Chwa say their late dad was allotted the land in the 1900 Buganda Agreement.
Through their appointed attorney, Sulaiman Mamuli Ssebyatika, the Chwas say their dad went on to pay relevant taxes of 15 Rupees for the land, sealing the ownership.

They add that they registered with the Registrar of Documents  December 8, 2009, as the surviving children of Chwa, entitling them to ownership of the property.

Alternatively, the Chwas argue the land belongs to Wakiso District Land Board, which is keeping it in trust for all the Baganda as the Land Law requires.

Their application to join the legal trenches in a bid to defeat Kabaka's claim for the land, is scheduled for hearing on March 25, before the Court's Deputy Registrar, Gladys Nakibuule Kisseka.

Kabaka Permits Govt Occupation

Meanwhile, Government denies trespassing on the land in question, arguing that Kabaka has never issued them with a notice to vacate and they refused.

"This implies that government has occupied the suit property with permission of the plaintiff," argues the Attorney General in his rejoinder to Kabaka's case.

The case was filed at a time when relationships between Kabaka and the central government reached their lowest point in many years following the closure of Buganda's radio station CBS FM, which is Kabaka's main mobilisation tool.

By David Lukoma