High Court intervenes in Shs25 billion Kampala property dispute
What you need to know:
- The contested property is on Plot 20, William Street
The High Court Lands Division in Kampala has issued a consent order restraining parties from selling, transferring, or demolishing a prime property on William Street, pending the hearing and disposal of Miscellaneous Application No.221 of 2025.
The consent order dated May 20, 2025 signed by representatives of the applicant (United Advocates) and (Guma & Co. Advocates) for the respondents respectively, stems from the recent scuffle that saw the execution of an eviction of occupants from a Kampala City Prime building on William street on May 14, 2025.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr. Patrick Onyango, defended the police deployment during the eviction, stating, "The police was just implementing a Court Order for vacant possession of property. Two parties went to Court where the Court made a decision that one party takes possession. Both parties were served with the order. Our work as police was simply to implement the Court Order."
But Ms Samalie Mperese on behalf of Bakijulula Coffee Factory evicted from the City building claimed high-handedness on the part of police and court bailiffs in a matter she says was still before courts of law.
“Bakijulula coffee factory and the family of the late Edward Mperese are very disappointed about the judicial process and the failure to protect property of the vulnerable citizens in Uganda. Our appeal is for President Museveni and the Minister of Justice to reign in and protect the property of a veteran who used to supply cigarettes to the NRA soldiers during the Luweero triangle bush war,” she told the Monitor in a phone interview.
She added: "It was like a battleground as police escorted bailiffs to evict occupants from Plot 20, William Street. This $7 million (Shs25.5 billion) property is being unfairly targeted over a disputed debt payment, which both the late Edward Mperese's family and Bakijulula Coffee Factory are contesting in court. I hope President Museveni is made aware that his former bush war comrade's assets are under threat of being lost through dubious means."
The Court bailiffs Ms Kibirango Hillary of Hillary Kibirango & Associates Court Bailiffs confirmed to the Monitor that their action was lawful and backed by a court order for which the other Party (Bakijulula Coffee Factory) had a copy before the execution.
“Our actions are not in breach of any law because the other party (Bakijulula Coffee Factory) and their legal representatives were already aware and in possession of the Court Order for vacant possession. You can come and check with our office,” one of their staff said.
However, Mr Osmas Kayanja, the lawyer representing Bakijulula Coffee Factory, stated that the eviction did not signify the end of the case. '
"There was no public auction of the property as required by law. The eviction was a calculated move that we are contesting. Our case will be fixed for hearing," he told the Monitor on May 22, 2025 after securing the new court order that halts demolition, sale and transfer of the prime property.
