IGANGA COURT ISSUES CRIMINAL SUMMONS OVER ALLEGED GRABBING OF 16 ACRES BELONGING TO ELDERLY WIDOW

By Barasa Richard

Iganga District | October 22, 2026: The Grade One Magistrate's Court in Iganga has issued criminal summons against Ibrahim Musasizi, who is accused of demolishing houses and unlawfully taking possession of 16 acres of land belonging to a 70-year-old widow in Namutumba District.

Magistrate Ali Tibenkana issued the summons on Tuesday after Musasizi, who was reportedly granted bail the previous week, failed to appear for a court hearing despite the presence of the complainant and state witnesses.

The case, involving allegations of malicious property damage and a disputed land takeover, has attracted public attention, including interest from the Office of the President following media reports in June 2026.

The court adjourned the matter to November 11, warning that arrest warrants could be issued if the accused and other summoned individuals fail to appear.

How the Dispute Started

According to the prosecution, Musasizi allegedly emerged in July 2025 and claimed ownership of land occupied by Mariam Mutesi Tabisa and her family for more than 43 years.

The family says the land belonged to Mutesi and her late husband, Amis Mpanga, and has supported generations through farming and rental income.

Musasizi is accused of demolishing family houses, destroying food crops and other property before taking possession of the contested 16 acres.

These allegations have not been established in court. Musasizi has previously maintained that he purchased the land from neighbours, a claim disputed by the family and local leaders.

Court Challenges Non-Appearance During the proceedings, State Attorney Arap Malingha asked the court to issue criminal summons and a warrant of arrest, arguing that the accused's failure to attend risked delaying justice.

Musasizi reportedly sent his wife, Martha Among, who informed the court that he was ill and presented medical documents. However, Malingha challenged the documents, arguing that the circumstances warranted the court's intervention to ensure the case proceeded without unnecessary delays. Magistrate Tibenkana subsequently issued criminal summons against Musasizi and other accused individuals who had failed to appear, except Zubair Isabirye, who attended court.

The matter is scheduled to return on November 11 for further proceedings. Legal Questions Over Land Rights The dispute raises questions about lawful land acquisition, protection of long-term occupants and the procedures that must be followed when ownership or possession is contested.

Article 26 of Uganda's Constitution protects the right to own property and generally prohibits compulsory deprivation of property except in accordance with the law.

The Land Act also provides protections for certain lawful and bona fide occupants, subject to the applicable legal requirements and circumstances of occupation.

However, long-term occupation alone does not automatically establish ownership or resolve every land dispute. The legal status of the family, the competing ownership claims and the circumstances surrounding the alleged eviction must be assessed through the appropriate legal process.

The allegations that houses were demolished and crops destroyed without lawful authority will therefore require proper examination of the available evidence.

Family Reports Economic Hardship Mutesi says the alleged demolition has left her family struggling to obtain food, shelter and income. "We now sleep together with my married sons in one small house. We have no food, we have no income. That land is all we had," she told Busoga Tribune outside court.

Her son, Hassan Sajjabi, alleged that some family members were previously arrested on charges including criminal trespass and robbery, which he believes were intended to intimidate them into abandoning the land.

The family denies voluntarily surrendering its rights and is seeking legal protection and restoration of access to the property.

Legal Aid Organisation Calls for Speedy Justice

Damalie Nyafono, a legal officer with Redeem International, which is representing the family and provides free legal services to widows and orphans, welcomed the issuance of the summons.

Nyafono said Musasizi had allegedly evaded arrest for more than a year after the case was sanctioned and surrendered himself the previous week following intensified police operations.

She said delays were worsening the family's economic and psychological suffering. "The issuance of criminal summons will help fast-track this matter. This family has suffered for too long," Nyafono said.

She added that the case required timely determination to ensure the parties' rights were addressed through the courts.

Presidential Office Intervention The dispute reportedly attracted the attention of district stakeholders and the Office of the President after media coverage in June 2026.

Residents told Busoga Tribune that a fact-finding exercise was initiated through the Resident District Commissioner's office to examine the family's long-term occupation and the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

The findings and any recommendations from that exercise may provide relevant background, but the court must determine the criminal allegations on the evidence presented before it.

As the November 11 hearing approaches, the case will test the parties' competing claims and the justice system's ability to address allegations of property destruction and unlawful land occupation.

For Mutesi, the priority remains regaining access to the land she says sustained her family for decades. Musasizi maintains that he purchased the property, while the widow's family disputes his claim.

The court proceedings will determine the criminal case, while any unresolved question of land ownership or entitlement must be addressed through the appropriate legal process.