By Johannah Nantongo

Police have arrested nine people accused of encroaching on and illegally selling portions of a 101-acre property belonging to St. Kizito Kayini Sub-Parish under the Lugazi Catholic Diocese in Mukono District.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja disclosed the arrests during Thursday’s plenary sitting of Parliament, November 12, 2026, chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.

Her statement followed concerns raised by Nakifuma County MP Sulaiman Kiwanuka over a land dispute involving the church property.

Kiwanuka told Parliament that tensions escalated on June 1, 2026, when a group allegedly led by Nelson Okello Alfred trespassed on the land, prompting the parish priest, Fr. Anthony Kizito, to report the matter to Naggalama Police Station.

According to Nabbanja, the suspects claim ownership of the contested property as first-, second- and third-generation mailo landholders. They allegedly sold portions of the land to Okello between March and May 2026.

She revealed that approximately 29 acres of the 101-acre property were already occupied by squatters, while the church had recently embarked on efforts to document and secure its land ownership.

Nabbanja said preliminary investigations indicate that the disputed property was originally donated to the Catholic Church by the Buganda Kingdom.

She commended the Mukono Resident District Commissioner and Kasawo Sub-county LC III Chairperson for intervening through fact-finding meetings aimed at resolving the dispute.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting institutional properties, including church land, against illegal encroachment and pledged that relevant authorities would ensure the matter is handled in accordance with the law.

She added that the case file had been sanctioned, paving the way for the nine suspects to be brought before court to answer charges relating to the alleged land encroachment.