On Saturday, 21st May, 2014, Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo of the High Court (Land Division) toured the 38 acres of disputed Katanga valley land. The two claimants to this land, Makerere University and the family of the late Rev. Samuel Mukasa were part of the tour, which kicked off at about 11:00am.

The Makerere University team comprised of the two Deputy Vice Chancellors, Dr. Ernest Okello Ogwang and Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the University Secretary David Kahundha Muhwezi and other members of Staff. The family of the late Rev. Samuel Mukasa filed a claim to this land in the year 2000.

After a tour of the vast land, Justice Owiny convened a court session at the offices of the LC1 Kimwanyi zone, to hear from key witnesses. The session closed at about 6:00pm.

The Judge will evaluate all evidence and deliver his judgment. “Whatever is witnessed here by the court will be weighed with the testimonies and then the court will depend on the law to determine the case. Therefore this is not like an election where the number of voters matters it is all about working directly with the law,” he emphasized.

Justice Alphonse Owiny Dollo of the Land Division, High Court during his tour of the disputed Katanga land on 21st June 2014, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

According to the documents on file, the disputed land was granted to Makerere College School in the 1940s by H.E the Governor of the Uganda Protectorate. This land is between Makerere Hill and Mulago Hospital. Although the Katanga valley land and Makerere University Main Campus do not share common boundaries, they were registered under one title. Makerere University has previously won a case against St. Mark Education Centre, which was making similar claims to part of this land in 1996.

By Marion Alina and Prossy Nabatte, Public Relations Office