By After years of a combative stance toward the Buganda Kingdom, State Minister for Lands Sam Mayanja has surprised many by extending an olive branch to Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, declaring his willingness to apologise to the monarch and seek reconciliation.
The surprise declaration came as Mayanja ordered the arrest of a local resident, David Kiwanuka of Ssi-Bukunja, accused of illegally evicting tenants using forged land claims. The minister said the government would no longer tolerate individuals using influence or deception to displace communities from public land.
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“This land belongs to the public. We cannot allow people to misuse authority or lie about ownership to take what is not theirs,” Mayanja said, reaffirming his stance against illegal evictions.
Amid growing legal tensions with Mengo, Mayanja appeared more conciliatory in tone than usual. Referring to a recent legal notice from the Kabaka’s legal team who threatened to sue him for defamatory remarks made in March over the disputed Kaazi land Mayanja sought to separate the monarch from the land board officials he accuses of abuse.
“I am ready to go, kneel, and apologise to the Kabaka himself,” Mayanja told residents. “But I would also ask him to dismiss those who exploit his name and use the Buganda Land Board to carry out illegal evictions.”
His comments came against the backdrop of a broader discussion on land rights, where several leaders voiced concerns about systemic failures and corruption. Buikwe South MP Dr. Lulume Bayiga called on the Ministry of Lands to issue land titles embedded with stronger security features, saying rampant forgeries were causing irreparable damage to landowners.
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District Woman MP and Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Mutasingwa, took aim at some officials in the Resident District Commissioner’s (RDC) office, whom she accused of colluding with wealthy individuals to grab land from vulnerable communities.
“People are tricked into giving up land for the promise of a title, only to be denied ownership,” she said. “This must stop. We need to protect Bibanja holders, not exploit them.”
In response, Buikwe’s newly appointed RDC, Maj. David Matovu, defended his office, stressing that ongoing operations are now based on transparency, fairness, and the protection of community rights.
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