Tension is mounting within Mukono Diocese after church leaders accused police in Naggalama of failing to respond to an early morning attack by suspected land grabbers on church property.
The incident occurred at Nakanyonyi Church of Uganda Primary School in Nakifuma–Naggalama Town Council, where unknown individuals reportedly stormed part of the school land at around 4:00 a.m., destroying crops and property belonging to teachers.
According to the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. John Musoke, the attackers uprooted banana plantations, cut down boundary fences, and later set the fence poles on fire in what he described as a coordinated act of destruction. The incident was first reported by nearby residents who witnessed the invasion.
Church officials say their attempts to get immediate police intervention were unsuccessful. Rev. Musoke said that when the matter was reported to Naggalama Division Police, officers declined to act, arguing that they are not mandated to handle land-related disputes.
The response has sparked outrage among church leaders, who question the apparent reluctance of law enforcement to intervene in what they describe as criminal activity.
Rev. Musoke warned that such inaction could embolden perpetrators and put lives at risk. He wondered whether authorities are waiting for violence against clergy or community members before taking decisive action.
Efforts to obtain a detailed comment from police were unsuccessful. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala said police had already engaged diocesan leadership to find an appropriate way forward but did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, diocesan officials say the Nakanyonyi land is part of a much larger property historically owned by the church.
Rev. Erisa Walusimbi, the Diocesan Estates Director, said the diocese originally held more than 450 acres in the area, but over half of it has been gradually taken over by encroachers.
He explained that the land had been subdivided to support teachers through agricultural activities, a system now under threat as alleged grabbers continue to occupy sections and erect temporary structures to assert ownership.
Local church leaders say the problem is longstanding. The Archdeacon of Bukoba Archdeaconry, Ven. Charles Bukenya, noted that disputes over church land in the area have persisted for more than 20 years, often involving individuals who present questionable claims of ownership.
At the parish level, concerns are also growing. Daniel Katabira, head of laity at St. John’s Church Nakanyonyi, said some of the suspected encroachers are known to the community, although many others remain unidentified and lack credible documentation.
Church leaders are now calling for stronger protection of religious and community land. Rev. Musoke urged Christians to take a more active role in safeguarding church property, warning that continued encroachment threatens key institutions such as schools and health facilities that serve the wider public.
The diocese says the problem extends beyond Nakanyonyi, with similar cases reported in Mukono, Buikwe, Kayunga, and Buvuma districts. In some areas, church leaders have allegedly faced threats, while significant portions of land have already been lost.
As pressure mounts, diocesan leaders are demanding clearer action from authorities to halt further encroachment and restore confidence in the protection of institutional land.
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