Walter Okello
Lira, Uganda | Sixty-eight residents of Anai have filed a suit at the Lira High Court seeking to block the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Lira City Land Board from encroaching on their land for the proposed airport project.
Through their lawyers at Okwi & Company Advocates, the plaintiffs have notified the court that the CAA fraudulently obtained a land title for the construction of an airfield at Anai, which illegally extends into their private lands.
In the plaint, the residents state that the impugned title purports to cover approximately 520.2418 hectares (equivalent to 1,285.517 acres or about 2.1 square miles). However, the original boundaries of the proposed airport land measured only about 100.859 hectares.
The plaintiffs further claim that the CAA has extended the title beyond Lira City into Kole District, covering parts of Atilem and Akuriluba cells in Akalo Town Council, as well as Bungabunga and Ireda villages in Akalo Subcounty, areas where the authority has no jurisdiction or mandate.
They hired an independent survey firm, Geoline Enterprise, to investigate the title. The survey reportedly found that the CAA’s title cuts across and engulfs the Lira-Apac Highway, a major public road reserve, rendering the title illegal, part of the suit reads.
In their suit, they notify the court that, out of the 68 plaintiffs, 25 hold valid land title certificates issued by the government, yet the CAA’s title allegedly engulfs these certificates.
The residents are praying for several court orders, including:
▪︎ A declaration that Freehold Register Volume LIR 488 Folio 4, land at Wigeng, Opionyoro, Agali and Pida, Erute Block 7, Plot 24461, Certificate of Title registered under Instrument No. LIR00024672 is illegal, fraudulent, and encroaches on their land.
▪︎ An order for cancellation and rectification of the said title under the Registration of Titles Act.
▪︎ A permanent injunction restraining the defendants from entering, occupying, surveying, alienating, or interfering with the plaintiffs’ land.
▪︎ Payment of general and aggravated damages by the defendants plus costs of the suit.
A letter dated 20 February 2026, addressed to the CAA and Lira City Council, which they received through stamping by Lira High Court Deputy Registrar David Sayuni, gives the defendants a 15-day ultimatum to file their defence. Failure to do so will allow the court to proceed with the case in their absence. Part of the letter reads.
Speaking to Reporter, plaintiff witness Anthony Ojuka said the CAA fraudulently acquired the land title for the Anai airport, affecting over 1,000 households who now have nowhere to go.
“We are not against the construction of the Anai airport,” Ojuka clarified. “We only want the land that rightfully belongs to the residents to remain untouched. We plead with the independent court to critically examine this matter and handle it with care.”
In response, Lira City Land Board Secretary and City Spokesperson Robert Okello said the authority wants the Lira airport in the Lango region to foster development.“We will find an amicable way forward to handle the issues affecting the residents of the Anai airport area,” Okello assured.
Attempts to get a comment from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were unsuccessful by the time of filing this story.
