By Swift Reporter
Two men, a businessman and a mechanical engineer, have been arraigned before the Kira Chief Magistrate’s Court and remanded over allegations of land grabbing, forcible entry and destruction of crops and other property in Wakiso District.
The accused, identified as Ssemakula Yusuf, a businessman, and Kato Erick, a mechanical engineer, were charged with six counts relating to the alleged illegal takeover of land and unlawful eviction of occupants without a court order.
The two were arraigned on Wednesday by the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
They were remanded until November 23, 2026, as investigations and court proceedings continue.
According to the prosecution, between September and November 2025, the accused, together with other individuals still at large, allegedly mobilised an unusually large group of people who violently entered land situated at Kitukutwe Village in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.
The contested property is described as Block 180, formerly Plot 2 Kyadondo. The prosecution alleges that the group forcefully entered the land with the intention of taking possession without obtaining a lawful eviction order.
The accused further face allegations of destroying property belonging to three individuals identified as Kabugo William, Kizito Robert Nsimbi and Edisa Sanyu.
Prosecution alleges that during November 2025, the accused, acting alongside others still at large, destroyed several crops and trees on the contested land.
The destroyed property reportedly included eucalyptus trees, natural trees, maize, banana plantations, sweet potatoes, fruit trees and cassava, among other crops.
The six counts include destroying growing plants, forcible entry, forcible detainer and unlawful eviction of bona fide occupants without a court order.
The prosecution maintains that the alleged actions were carried out without following the lawful procedures required to evict occupants from the property.
The arraignment was part of a joint operation involving the Anti-Corruption Unit, CID and ODPP aimed at addressing alleged land-related offences.
The two accused will remain on remand until November 23, when they are expected to return to court.
The allegations remain before court, and the accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.