Makerere University is on spot over alleged fraudulent acquisition of a certificate of title for ownership of prime land at Katanga near Wandegeya.
In the fresh contestation, the administration of Mulago National Referral Hospital has asked the Attorney General (AG) to intervene and have the matter resolved on merit without fear or favour by thoroughly considering all the irregularities involved in creating the certificate of title for FRV 202/6.
Dr Rosemary K. Byanyima, the hospital’s Executive Director wrote in a February 25,2026 letter asking the AG to help them get justice by way of having the title held by Makerere University cancelled citing forgery and superimposing a title on the land owned by Mulago Hospital.
The Mulago hospital letter details history showing that the land on two parcels was granted to Makerere College council by the Governor of the Uganda Protectorate under Crown Grants Nos. 36608 and 36629 registered on May 3 1943 under freehold register volume 59 folios 21.
“On October 12, 1956, His Excellency the Governor transferred land under instrument 134680 a portion of land measuring 36.5 acres which is to the north of Kitante Road out of certificate of title registered under FRV 59/21 from Makerere College Council for expansion of Mulago. In exchange for the originally granted land, Makerere College Council was given residential plots at Kololo and Katalemwa Estates,” reads the letter.
The letter adds: “However, due to unknown reasons a certificate of title; freehold register volume 202 folio 6 comprising of plot 40-42 North Kitante Road, M.50 (currently Makerere Medical School) and Plot 1-43, 47 (Katanga Zone) was erroneously created on March 1 1962 in names of Makerere University College Council. The certificate of title was later transferred to Makerere University on August 24, 2027.”
According to the letter, the transfer of March 1, 1962 is not registered on the parent certificate of title (substitute and original) registered under FRV 59/21. In addition, the incumbencies registered on the certificate of title FRV 202/6 were registered in the earlier years of 1958 and 1959, way before the creation of this certificate of title in 1962.
The letter from Mulago hospital further shows that the analysis established that the incumbrances registered on the certificate of title FRV 202/6 are a duplicate of the incumbrances registered on certificate of title FRV 59/21 with varying instrument numbers while maintaining the same earlier dates 1958 and 1959.
The complaint by Mulago Hospital administration comes more than a decade after the High Court decided the ownership contest over Katanga valley land.
In 2015, the High Court ruled that four family members and their licensees on the land at Katanga Valley are bona fide occupants and are by law entitled to continue in possession.
The four family members are Jonathan Yosamu Masembe, Bulasio Buyisi, George Kalimu and Samalie Nambogga. They were battling with Makerere University and the Commissioner for Land registration over cancellation of their Land titles and ownership of the land by Makerere University.
The court pronouncement also declared Makerere University the registered proprietor of the same land.
Judge Alphonse Owiny Dollo, then of the High Court Land Division cited the 1998 Land Act which provides that an occupant of land seeking to benefit from the provision of bonafide occupancy has to prove possession of 12 years without any challenge to such occupation.
“… while the plaintiffs are protected by law as bonafide occupants, therefore, and are entitled to continue enjoying their occupation. I have found that the plaintiffs have been in uninterrupted occupation of the suit land and are therefore protected by law from being evicted there from,” the court held.
Being dissatisfied, Makerere University appealed against the decision in a matter that is still pending hearing and determination.
Court documents indicate that the disputed Katanga land comprises three zones situated on 37 acres which have since been occupied by the complainants and their licensees. However, the University claims to own 277 acres contrary to the 10.315 hectares on the land title in their possession.
