Residents of Katente B Village in Nakisunga Sub-county, Mukono District are living in fear following the alleged forceful eviction of more than 20 tenants by a man claiming to be a security operative attached to the Defence Intelligence and Security (DIS), formerly known as the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI).
The man, who identifies himself as “Kabaka Nakibinge,” together with his wife Maggie Nakatte, is accused of orchestrating what residents describe as a calculated land grab disguised in mysticism and power.
Nakibinge reportedly tells locals that he is acting under spiritual instruction from his ancestors and has a mission to construct 120 shrines across different locations.
Katente B, he says, is one of the selected sites, even though it is currently occupied by tenants who claim longstanding occupancy.
According to residents, his arrival in the village has triggered unrest, fear, and destruction.
Gardens have allegedly been slashed down, mature trees cut and sold, and homes marked for demolition.
Ronald Kabugo, 63, says the land in question was inherited from his father and has sustained his family for decades.
“They destroyed all my food crops,” Kabugo says, pointing to what used to be a cassava and banana garden. “Now my house is the only thing standing. I am only waiting for the day they bring it down.”
Kabugo insists he has never sold the land and has no knowledge of any lawful transaction transferring ownership.
Youth Gangs and Night Patrols
The situation escalated further when residents alleged that Nakibinge mobilized a group of more than 100 youths who patrol the area at night.
The Village NRM Chairperson, Moses Kiyemba, claims the group intimidates residents, walking with sticks and pangas, and in some cases stoning houses.
“The intention is to scare people away so that they abandon their land,” Kiyemba said. “People are afraid. Some have already fled.”
Residents describe the operations as coordinated and deliberate, alleging that the youths act with a sense of impunity.
Claims of Power and Protection
Nakibinge, however, maintains that his actions are lawful. He claims to have purchased the land from a one Captain Roy and insists he is the bona fide owner.
He argues that tenants have refused to vacate despite what he calls legitimate acquisition.
In several meetings, residents say Nakibinge frequently invokes his alleged connections to high-ranking authorities, referring to the President as “No.1” and describing himself as a trusted advisor on land matters within Buganda.
He has reportedly claimed ownership of multiple prime properties across the country, including land hosting the Parliament of Uganda, the Lubowa land earmarked for the International Specialized Hospital project, Usafi Market, and land associated with Lubiri Mengo.
Such assertions have left residents questioning whether they are dealing with a powerful insider, or a man leveraging fear and political name-dropping to consolidate control.
Presidential Directive vs. Evictions
The alleged evictions come in the wake of a directive issued by Yoweri Museveni late last year, halting illegal tenant evictions and ordering landlords to refund excessive nominal ground rent (busuulu).
The directive emphasized that tenants, particularly those who have occupied land since 1983, cannot be arbitrarily evicted and that landlords must adhere to procedures guided by district land boards. The move was part of broader reforms aimed at addressing long-standing land conflicts under Uganda’s customary tenure systems.
Residents argue that Nakibinge’s actions directly contravene this directive.
RDC Intervention Falls Short
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mukono, Moses Muyambi, visited the area and convened a meeting between both parties in an attempt to mediate the conflict.
However, according to community members, the intervention did little to ease tensions.
Some residents allege that Nakibinge dismissed concerns during the meeting and continued his operations afterward, reportedly telling locals that the RDC was “part of them.”
A Pattern of Land Tensions
Land disputes remain among the most volatile governance challenges in Uganda, particularly in Buganda where overlapping claims between tenants and registered landowners often spark prolonged battles.
Legal experts note that even where a title exists, eviction must follow due process, including court orders and respect for lawful occupancy rights.
Community members in Katente B are now calling for a full investigation into Nakibinge’s claims of security affiliation, the legality of the land transaction, and the conduct of the youth group allegedly enforcing the evictions.
“We want government to clarify whether this man is truly a security officer,” one resident said. “And if he is, is this how security officers should treat citizens?”
For now, fear hangs heavy over Katente B. Gardens lie flattened, houses remain under threat, and families wait anxiously to see whether the law — or force — will determine their fate.
ENDS.
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