Mpigi– A Catholic priest in Mpigi District has secured compensation following the destruction of his crops after the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) intervened in a land dispute involving a registered landowner.
The intervention followed complaints lodged by Reverend Father Edward Bwanika, who reported that Odida Paul and his agents had forcefully entered his kibanja land in Ntinzi, Nkozi, Mpigi District, destroying plantations of coffee, bananas, and Irish potatoes.
According to SH-ACU, the first complaint was filed on February 3, 2026, prompting immediate investigations. A second complaint was later received on February 14, alleging further destruction of the priest’s remaining crops.
To curb the alleged actions, SH-ACU arrested Odida and four others on February 15 over their involvement in the incident.
Following his arrest, Odida, through his lawyers, requested to resolve the matter through Alternative Dispute Resolution, an arrangement that Father Bwanika accepted. During the process, Odida apologised and committed to ensuring the priest’s quiet possession of the land. He also agreed to compensate him for the destroyed crops.
Investigations indicate that Father Bwanika acquired approximately 2.5 acres of kibanja land in 2004 and has been in active possession since then. However, Odida reportedly obtained a land title in 2021 after applying through an agent to convert customary interests into freehold ownership.
Authorities say inquiries are ongoing into the circumstances under which a land title was issued on land already occupied by a bibanja holder.
SH-ACU noted that its intervention is in line with a directive by Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to ensure constitutional protection of bibanja occupants and safeguard their land rights.
