Behind Bars: KCCA officials remanded over Munyonyo land grab

What the report says

Uganda’s courts issued a series of notable rulings last week, with The Observer reporting on cases that touched on corruption, commercial disputes and defendants’ rights. The biggest anti-corruption development was at the Anti-Corruption Court, where four people, including three Kampala Capital City Authority officials and a land dealer, were remanded over allegations tied to a disputed plot in Munyonyo.

The accused — identified as a principal assistant secretary, a government valuer, a data entry clerk and land dealer Kizito John — face charges including conspiracy, forgery, abuse of office and fraudulently obtaining a land title. Prosecutors allege the group worked in 2024 to take a 0.202-hectare property said to belong to James Mulebeke. The report says the land was allegedly undervalued and paperwork was moved through irregular channels. The court remanded the suspects until October 29, 2026, and issued summonses for additional people.

In separate cases, the High Court ordered Roko Construction Limited to pay more than US$1.39 million to Assa Abloy in a dispute linked to supplies for Mulago National Referral Hospital, and appellate judges threw out a Shs 200 million torture compensation award that had been granted in a criminal case. The court said that claim should have been pursued through proper civil procedures. The High Court also overturned the conviction and deportation order against an Eritrean girl, saying juvenile safeguards were not followed and that she should be retried with the appropriate protections. Taken together, the rulings show the courts weighing both accountability and due process in cases involving state institutions and vulnerable people.