Church sues registry over Mukono Land

By Hillary Nsambu
4/5/2011

THE Uganda Orthodox Church has dragged the registrar of titles and three other individuals to court, seeking to recover a ten-acre piece of land situated in Seeta village in Mukono district.

The land allegedly donated to the church in 1980 by a staunch believer, the late Bulanina Nassuuna, is situated on Plot 32 in Seeta village.

It is estimated to be worth sh500m.

Isaac Walukagga, who is representing the Church, alleges that the late Nassuuna donated the land to the church to promote its evangelisation work, improve education and provide health services to the community.

He said following the donation, the management committee appointed Reuben Seggalye, a son-in-law to Nassuuna, to effect the transfer of the land into the name of the church.

Trouble, however, began when Seggalye founded an organisation known as “Nassuuna Nalwanga Foundation” and appointed his sons, Steven Ssekasi, Nicholas Ssebaggala and Joseph Kigozi as directors and even obtained letters of administration of the property.

Walukagga claims the foundation had dispossessed the church of its property which it was planning to develop through donor funds.

He also claims that the so-called directors were wrongly approved by the registrar of titles and forcibly took over the management of the school and the health centre.

Walukagga also said the accused wrongfully sub-divided the property into four plots.

However, the defendants, who were represented by Frederick Ssentomero, denied the allegations and asked the court to dismiss the case.

They contend that while there was an agreement signed between Bulanina Nassuuna and the church, the agreement was subject to certain conditions that the church failed to fulfill.

They further claim that after the church failed to fulfill the conditions for 17 years, Nassuuna revoked her offer.

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