The Kabaka Kaazi land injunction has reignited Uganda’s long-standing debate over land ownership and governance. On July 18, the High Court in Kampala stopped State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja, from canceling Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II’s title to Plot 5 Kaazi. This 350-acre lakeside property sits in Wakiso District and holds deep cultural and political importance.
Justice Bonny Isaac Teko ruled that courts cannot ignore such a sensitive dispute. Therefore, he issued a temporary injunction. This order prevents Minister Mayanja and any government body from enforcing the March 10 directives until the court rules on Judicial Review Application MC No. 175 of 2025.
Kabaka Mutebi and the Buganda Land Board (BLB) filed the case. The BLB, which manages land on behalf of the Buganda Kingdom, argued that the minister exceeded his legal mandate. After visiting Kaazi on March 6, Mayanja made public claims questioning the Kabaka’s ownership. Four days later, he followed with 16 directives aimed at multiple state institutions.
The directives called for the cancellation of the Kabaka’s land title, the removal of private security personnel from the area, and the deregistration of the BLB. As a result, the court’s Kabaka Kaazi land injunction suspended those actions to preserve the status quo.
Mengo officials responded quickly. They warned that implementing these orders would cause irreversible harm. According to their filing, Kaazi forms part of the official mailo estate of Buganda, constitutionally reinstated in 1993.
Moreover, the Kabaka’s lawyers said the land symbolizes more than just property. It represents Buganda’s identity and cultural heritage. Losing this land would affect the kingdom’s dignity in a way that no amount of money could fix. The court accepted this argument.
Justice Teko emphasized that the Kabaka Kaazi land injunction involves serious constitutional and legal concerns. For example, deregistering the BLB would create chaos. Thousands of leaseholders would face legal confusion, and property disputes could overwhelm the courts.
Communities would suffer from economic instability. Additionally, the judge stressed that public officials must act within legal limits. Even ministers must follow due process, especially in matters tied to history and identity.
Buganda Lands Minister David Mpanga welcomed the court’s decision. He said the ruling confirmed the importance of protecting Buganda’s land rights.
“These actions by Minister Mayanja violate the law,” Mpanga stated. “We will continue to defend the Kabaka’s land in every legal forum available.”
The Kabaka Kaazi land injunction has generated wide interest. Legal experts say this case goes beyond one parcel of land. It touches on deep historical foundations, including the 1900 Buganda Agreement and the reign of Kabaka Daudi Chwa II.
Justice Teko acknowledged this context. He noted that the Kaazi land supports Buganda’s economy and culture. In his words, the minister’s directives “touch the eyeball” of the Kabaka and the kingdom.
Because of the injunction, the Kabaka retains control of the land for now. The court will examine the case fully and determine whether the minister’s actions violated legal procedures.
This dispute shows how land in Uganda reflects more than economics. It speaks to power, heritage, and the balance of constitutional authority. The Kabaka Kaazi land injunction ensures that these values remain protected while the legal process unfolds.
Read: David Serumaga: Buganda Land Board-Ham Issues are Costing the Kingdom Goodwill
