Squatters hold Law Development Centre at ransom, want compensation to vacate

_______________

The Law Development Centre (LDC) is trapped in a dilemma: 186 squatters, who illegally encroached on its four-acre land in Kampala city suburb of Bukoto, have refused to vacate without compensation.

These have established permanent and semi-permanent structures.

Former LDC director Frank Nigel Othembi and the institution’s legal officer, Lawrence Kisekka, revealed this on July 31, 2025, during an interaction with Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee (Central). The discussion centred around findings in the Auditor General Edward Akol’s report for the year ended December 2024.

The contested land, located next to Kabira Country Club, was acquired by LDC in 1995. At the time of purchase, the land was unoccupied. However, Othembi alleges that a caretaker later invited occupants onto the property.

Despite LDC holding a valid land title, the squatters have remained put.

“We valued them at shillings 300 million then, more than five years back, for compensation and engaged the finance ministry. This land was worth, at that time, shillings five billion, but that money was never given.  I'm sure now that land is probably worth about 10 billion,” he said.

Chipping in, Kisekka further explained that they had discussions in 2019 before the COVID-19 lockdown with sitting tenants. While the law is clear that they can be evicted, he said that the politics in this country demand that they be compensated.

“We managed to convince the area authorities, Balimwezo [area MP], if he were here. He is among the people who came to Bukoto, made a lot of noise, and we had to convince people that we can only compensate the structures, not the land. Because the land does not belong to you, and the people consented. We made a report to the director, and we thought that the finance ministry would authorise and release money for people to leave. Up to date, people have not been paid,” he disclosed.

Recently, Kisekka said he received new matching orders from the current management led by Dr Pamela Tibihikirra Kalyegira to engage the squatters afresh. Adding that they are working with the Police to have evaluations done.

LDC considering selling off land

Because of the difficult circumstances on the land, it is understood that both old and new management have long considered selling off the land. Testimonies before the committee revealed that in 2008, former LDC director Elijah Wante was advised by counsel George Omunyokol to dispose of the land as is, citing a dangerous and hostile environment on the ground.

Upon assuming office, Lawrence Kisekka noted that they engaged the occupants and confirmed that all four acres were fully settled by tenants. “From the details, it sounds like it is really going to be complicated. One, because we have no money from the finance ministry to compensate these people… So, the decision was made to sell it and we are still on that decision of selling it,” Kalyegira said.

However, PAC chairperson Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala County, NUP) maintained that even if the compensation were to triple, there is no justification for selling off the land.

“Even if it came to a billion, why are you choosing to sell. Other than you pressing the Government to give you shillings 600 million and people vacating the land?” Kivumbi wondered.

Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi (NRM) said selling off the land would be defeating the purpose for which the land in question was purchased.

Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi (NRM).

“If you have a legal title, I don’t see why these people can’t be evicted. It's only in Uganda where the Government sometimes handles people with kid gloves. That’s why there is a lot of impunity in this country. I just watched a video this morning of a man who owns 10 acres of land, I think in Mukono and people came, evicted this man, and put down his structure where he had lived for the last 30 years with his children. The people who evicted him were accompanied by some security people,” Opendi said.

“I don’t think the people who are responsible for this are all dead. I think somebody should be able to explain. And we should not let anybody go off the hook as far as this matter is concerned. One, the leadership then. Two, how somebody slept on the job to let people encroach on land. How could this have happened?” Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality, JEEMA) wondered. 

Politics vs rule of law

However, at the heart of the matter, MP Asuman Basalirwa argued that the standoff reflects a deeper problem, which has subdued the rule of law in Uganda.

MP Asuman Basalirwa.

"I was joking with my friend here that you will not evict those people. It is practically impossible; you are going to get a million court orders. They will not be cleared by the legal department of the Police, RPC and DPC. If the DPC and RPC clear them, State House or something will come up and also issue its own orders that override decisions of the court,” Basalirwa said.

Indeed, Kisekka confirmed that this was exactly the same case.

“Merely opening of the boundaries…. We went to court, got a court order. To convince the other RDC, the DISO, area MP, it was very difficult. So, meaning that if we sit here and discuss that we can evict those people. We are joking. We cannot,” he affirmed.

“You are saying LDC is the pinnacle of law. Understand how scandalous you sound. That LDC that not only teaches graduates of law and the crème (best of the best) is on the verge of losing a property to unlawful occupants of their property, and they are choosing to give up. What will my mother do, who is less empowered?” Kivumbi wondered.

Related incidents

Surprisingly, this is not the first incident where LDC land is coming under attack from land barons.

LDC occupies 13 acres of land where it sits. Six acres are milo land that used to belong to the Labour Union, but in 1975, the Government led by Idi Amin Dada acquired seven extra acres and paid off the owners.

LDC was established by an Act of Parliament in 1970s to provide legal education to lawyers and non-lawyers.