Buganda Land Board Wins Legal Battle Over Disputed Mubende Land

The High Court in Mubende has ruled in favor of the Buganda Land Board (BLB) in a land dispute case filed by the Uganda Tea Growers Corporation (in liquidation). The court declared the lease title created by the Uganda Tea Growers on the Ssingo saza chief’s official mailo estate as null and void.

The dispute dates back to June 1997, when the Mubende District Land Board leased the land at Singo Ssaza headquarters to Uganda Tea Growers for a five-year renewable term. In 2019, Uganda Tea Growers sued BLB, accusing them of trespassing after BLB sold the land to two individuals. Uganda Tea Growers argued they still had a valid leasehold title.

BLB countered, arguing the land is an official mailo estate under Kabaka’s authority and that the lease was improperly issued by the Mubende District Land Board, which had no jurisdiction over land in Mityana District. BLB also claimed the corporation, being in liquidation, could not acquire new assets.

Justice Moses Kazibwe ruled in favor of BLB, citing that the lease was illegally created on official mailo land. He ordered the cancellation of Uganda Tea Growers’ lease and instructed the Tea Growers Corporation to pay BLB’s legal costs.

Dennis Bugaya, BLB’s spokesperson, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the Kabaka’s authority over returned estates and warning against district land boards issuing titles on Kabaka’s land.