By Our Reporter
A land dispute has emerged in Mukono District, where an orphan has accused former motor rally driver Arthur Blick Mugerwa of illegally acquiring her family’s 30-acre kibanja in Kisinsi Village, Mpata Sub-county.
Annet Nakafu claims the kibanja was inherited from her late father, David Ntulume, and alleges that Mugerwa fraudulently took over the land before subdividing it and obtaining land titles in an attempt to deprive her of her inheritance.
According to documents seen by this publication, Ntulume died when Nakafu was only four years old. She alleges that during her childhood, Mugerwa used his influence to take over the property and later secured a 99-year lease from the Buganda Land Board using what she describes as illegally obtained sale agreements.
Nakafu, who has since obtained letters of administration over her father’s estate—most recently renewed on May 25, 2026—also accuses some of her relatives of colluding with Mugerwa to deny her rightful ownership of the land.
Mugerwa, who also serves as LC I and LC II chairperson in the area, is further accused of relying on disputed sale agreements to support his claim to the land.
Court records indicate that in September 2022, Mugerwa filed a witness statement in a case in which Nakafu accuses some of her relatives of grabbing her father’s kibanja.
In his sworn statement before the Mukono court, Mugerwa said he acquired part of the land from Abdul Ntulume, whom he described as the caretaker and heir of David Ntulume’s estate.
“By then Abdul was still alive and I did not mind because Abdul was the heir and the one looking after the estate of the late David Ntulume. I did not know that Nakafu Annet was also the owner of the said bibanja because she was still young and staying with her relative, Aisha Nabawanuka,” Mugerwa stated.
The disputed land is located on Block 390 and has reportedly been subdivided into several plots, a move Nakafu alleges was intended to defeat her interest in the property.
Documents further show that on April 10, 2025, the Buganda Land Board suspended all transactions involving the disputed land pending resolution of the ownership dispute.
“We write to inform you that we have halted all transactions until we receive written communication from your office confirming that the matter has been resolved,” reads part of a letter signed by Buganda Land Board Chief Executive Officer Simon Kabogoza.
The suspension followed a request by Senior Presidential Advisor Phiona Barungi, who informed the board that her office was investigating the dispute involving Mugerwa.
A Buganda Land Board report indicates that in August 2001, Mugerwa applied to regularize his occupation of the land following a recommendation from the Mukono District Farmers’ Association. The application covered Plots 10 and 11 on Block 390, measuring approximately 121.3 acres.
According to the report, Mugerwa stated that he had purchased portions of the kibanja from several individuals and that the land was free of encumbrances.
However, the report notes that some of the sale agreements did not indicate the size of the land being sold, while others lacked witnesses. In some instances, Mugerwa signed the agreements both as the purchaser and as the LC I chairperson.
When contacted for comment, Mugerwa denied any wrongdoing.
“I got 2.5 acres from Ntulume, who was the musika (heir), through an exchange. I gave him a house and another kibanja. The person occupying that land now is someone else,” he said in a telephone interview.
Mugerwa added that he acquired the land about 30 years ago, in 1996, when Nakafu was still a young child, and that he dealt with Abdul Ntulume because he believed he was the lawful heir and caretaker of the estate.
The dispute remains unresolved, with investigations and court proceedings ongoing while the Buganda Land Board maintains a freeze on all transactions involving the contested land.
