The Hoima Post – Trustable News 24 -7
Buikwe District, Uganda – July 23, 2025 — A chilling letter of complaint authored by Musoke Ibrahim of Kiyagi Village in Malongwe Parish, Buikwe District, has triggered renewed public scrutiny of the escalating cases of land fraud in Uganda, especially targeting vulnerable and illiterate landowners. The letter, dated July 22 and copied to top government institutions including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Chief Justice, outlines a systematic land-grabbing operation allegedly perpetrated by a man calling himself Professor Justus Byaruhanga, aided by one Edward Mulinde.
According to the complaint, this duo, with alleged backing from police officers and Resident State Attorneys (RSAs) based in Lugazi and the wider Ssezibwa region, has perfected a scheme to defraud uneducated landowners in Buikwe and the greater Kyaggwe area.
“There is a serial land fraud star (mufere) who calls himself Professor Byaruhanga Justus from Mukono. He is grabbing land from illiterate landowners in Buikwe District and beyond,” the letter states.
The Modus Operandi: Exploiting the System
The letter describes a disturbing pattern where Edward Mulinde poses as an official or agent at the Office of the RDC in Buikwe, using that proximity to lure unsuspecting landowners into fraudulent dealings. Victims are reportedly tricked into signing blank documents under the pretense of legal assistance. These documents are later filled in by Byaruhanga to serve his interests — transferring land ownership and building false legal cases against the original owners.
Musoke explains that after the fraudulent agreements are drafted — often without local council witnesses or legitimate documentation — the victims are reported to the police and subsequently detained. The cases are then pushed through the RSA’s office, with victims remanded to Lugazi Prison, placed on bond, and forced to report regularly to the authorities, subjecting them to psychological stress and intimidation until they give up their land.
Specific Case Cited
In one enclosed case, a woman identified as Madina Nakawuma, an orphan and co-owner of a kibanja, is said to have been tricked into signing a blank paper. Byaruhanga later allegedly drafted a sale agreement in his own handwriting — a procedure that Musoke says is both irregular and fraudulent.
Additional red flags raised include:
-
The absence of LC officials or local witnesses.
-
The presence of unrelated individuals, such as Hellen Apio, whose name appears on documents but is unknown to the seller.
-
A second suspicious agreement dated a day later, suggesting post-sale interference in land sharing.
-
Mobile money transactions showing the seller sending funds to Byaruhanga, not receiving any.
Further, Musoke accuses D/W/IP Lilly Akia, an officer at Lugazi Police Station, of allegedly receiving money from Byaruhanga and being used to “strangle/torture” the victim, Madina Nakawuma.
A Call for Urgent Intervention
Musoke’s letter concludes with a passionate plea to all relevant state institutions — including the Police, Judiciary, Office of the RDC, and the Land Protection Unit under State House — to intervene and dismantle what he calls a “syndicate of land criminals” operating under the disguise of academic titles and religious symbols.
“This man is a habitual land grabber hiding in a university gown and church robes. We need immediate action before more victims are trapped,” Musoke pleads.
The letter has been widely shared across media houses, judicial circles, and political offices, igniting fresh debates around land justice, impunity, and the manipulation of Uganda’s judicial and security institutions to exploit the poor.
The Bigger Picture
Land fraud remains one of Uganda’s most pressing issues, especially in rural areas where formal documentation is scarce, and knowledge of legal processes is limited. Experts have long warned that without systemic reform, the gap between the powerful and the powerless will continue to widen — with devastating consequences for vulnerable communities.
For now, eyes are on the IGP, DPP, and judiciary to respond decisively to this detailed complaint. The question remains: will justice prevail, or will this be another case swept under the rug as land-grabbing mafias grow bolder?
