Lira, Uganda – In a letter dated March 20, 2025, the Minister of State for Lands, Dr. Sam Mayanja, has directed Ms. Phiona Barungi, the Special Presidential Assistant on Special Duties, to lead an investigation into allegations of police misconduct in a land dispute at Ireda Housing Estate, Lira City.
The dispute centers around land registered as Leasehold Register Volume LIR6 Folio 18 Plot 1 Wacha Olwol Close, Lira Municipality, measuring 0.1800 hectares.
The land belongs to Hon. Acon Julius, the Member of Parliament for Otuke East, but has been forcefully claimed by the Uganda Police Force.
Despite official land records confirming his ownership, police have allegedly continued to deny Hon. Acon and other titleholders access to their property.
During a recent visit to Lira, Minister Mayanja conducted a locus inspection and met with local leaders.
The Chairman of the Lira District Land Board publicly read out records confirming that the contested land does not belong to the police but rather to Hon. Acon.
However, the police have maintained their occupation, leading to rising tensions in the community.
Further fueling the controversy, residents have raised concerns that police officers have started planting maize on the disputed land during the ongoing rainy season.
This move has escalated the conflict between the police and the local community, with many questioning how law enforcement can claim ownership of land that legally belongs to private individuals.
The dispute escalated further when Hon. Acon was reportedly arrested and detained in a police holding cell (kabangali) when he attempted to access his land.
His arrest has sparked widespread condemnation from the public and leaders, who view it as an abuse of power.
Following his visit, Dr. Mayanja directed Ms. Barungi to conduct an in-depth investigation into the matter.
He also requested the Inspector General of Police to assign a team from police headquarters to work with Ms. Barungi’s team in Lira for at least five days.
The investigation aims to establish the extent of police misconduct and provide recommendations for resolving the dispute.
“The police cannot function in a hostile environment,” Minister Mayanja emphasized, stressing the need for the investigation to restore public trust in law enforcement.
The directive was communicated in an official letter copied to key officials, including the Director of Police Operations, the Head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Resident District Commissioner of Lira and the Chairman of the Lira District Land Board.
The investigation is expected to bring clarity to the dispute and ensure that land tenure security is upheld in line with Uganda’s Vision 2040, which prioritizes sustainable land use, secure land ownership and organized urban development.
Affected landowners, including Hon. Acon, are hopeful that this intervention will bring justice and put an end to the police occupation of privately owned land.
The outcome of this case is expected to set a precedent for resolving similar disputes across the country.
