Makerere University has ordered the illegal occupants to vacate her land at Kabanyolo, Katalemwa, Makindye and Katanga in one month. In a letter dated 15^th October 2015, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration), Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe instructed all persons who encroached on the University land to vacate it with immediate effect.

Touring the aforementioned land on 15th October 2015, the University’s Senior Legal Officer, Mr. Goddy Muhumuza said: “The letter indicates that upon receipt of the notice, they only have one month to leave the university land. We therefore expect the illegal occupants to have left these places by 15th November 2015.”

Mr. Muhumuza pointed out that Makerere University is facing a challenge of land encroachment, which has resulted into several land disputes.He added that the institution has been to court on several occasions to secure her land from the illegal claimants.

“We have a challenge with the illegal settlers; they come and occupy the institution’s land, develop businesses on it and also construct permanent structures. When time goes by, they claim to own it. I would like to emphasize that this is Makerere University land, bought purposely for expanding university activities as well as boosting students’ practical learning,” he stressed.

The Makerere University Chief Security Officer ASP Jackson Mucunguzi said that the University will tighten security on her land. Inspecting the Kabanyolo disputed land, ASP Mucunguzi noted that Makerere University  will need to fence her land to avoid more wrangles. He observed that the best way the University would safeguard her land from further encroachment by Atlas High School would be fencing the said land. “If this land was covered with a fence, it would have been difficult for the School to make extensions towards it.  I believe that putting a fence will be the first hand security. You need to protect the land to give a serious impression to people that you really do not need encroachers,” he said.

The Deputy Regional Police Commander Kampala North, SP Alfred Bangambaki said that Makerere University should collaborate with the claimants to open up land and re-demarcate the boundaries to understand the exact measurements of each party. According to him, this would bring consensus among the disputed parties.

Makerere University owns land in four places of Kampala suburbs of Katalemwa, Kabanyolo, Makindye and Katanga. This land was bought purposely to expand the university activities and boost student’s practical learning. The four places occupy 82, 551, 14, 38 acres of land respectively. The institution also owns land outside Kampala estimated to occupy more than 700 acres.