Subject sues Buganda king over land fees

Mr Male Mabirizi Kiwanuka contends that the Kabaka’s land where subjects are living was returned to the king by the central government and is public land collectively owned by the people of Buganda. Mr Kiwanuka says the Kabaka is only holding the land in trust for his subjects but is not their landlord or master.

In the petition filed before the High Court in Kampala, Mr Kiwanuka is challenging the Kabaka’s action, requiring all his subjects living on the kingdom land to register their plots at a fee ranging between Shs100,000 and Shs600,000 depending on the location. Registration of land in Kampala, Wakiso or the surrounding areas is Shs600,000 while in the rural areas, the owners pay Shs100,000.
The petitioner is seeking court declarations that Kabaka Mutebi’s actions through the Buganda Land Board to impose compulsory registration fees and threats to evict people who will not register their land in the king’s name are illegal.

Mr Kiwanuka is also seeking a declaration that the collection of a 10 per cent charge on the sale of land registered in the Kabaka’s names as per the Restitution of Assets and Properties Act is unconstitutional.

Kabaka Mutebi has appointed Mr Bashir Juma Kizito as his representative to file responses to the petition. In his affidavits, Mr Kizito contends that the case is misplaced, lacks merit and is premised on misinterpretation of the law.

Mr Kizito, a surveyor, claims the petition is riddled with falsehoods calculated to mislead court.

He contends that registration of occupants on the official mailo land in the Kabaka’s name is meant to protect their interest and that occupants have voluntarily registered with BLB.

According to the affidavit, the 10 per cent charge of the sale value of the land is meant to obtain the Kabaka’s consent on the transaction.