KAMPALA – Jinja South East Member of Parliament Hon. Paul Mwiru has asked Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure to facilitate a joint boundary-opening exercise between his company, Mwiru Holdings, and Uganda Railways Corporation to resolve a land dispute involving Plot 16, Nyanza Road in Jinja City.
Appearing before the committee, Mwiru explained that he acquired the property from Salamugo Investments Ltd in 2018 after conducting due diligence with the Ministry of Lands, which confirmed that the land title was registered in the seller’s name.
He said Salamugo Investments Ltd had obtained a leasehold title from the Jinja District Land Board before selling the property, whose title was subsequently transferred and registered in the name of Mwiru Holdings in 2022 through the established procedures of the Ministry of Lands.
However, before commencing development, concerns emerged over claims that part of the property fell within the Uganda Railways corridor, prompting him to seek clarification from the relevant authorities.
Mwiru said he engaged Uganda Railways Corporation and proposed a joint boundary-opening exercise involving the railway authorities and the Ministry of Lands to establish the exact boundaries of the respective properties.
He said the exercise had not taken place despite his repeated efforts, with Uganda Railways Corporation reportedly citing a lack of funds to facilitate the process.
The legislator explained that the failure to establish the boundaries had left his investment on the land in limbo because he could not proceed with development while uncertainty over the property’s boundaries remained.
He maintained that he was ready to respect the law and surrender any portion of the property that would be established through a lawful verification exercise to fall within the railway reserve.
However, he questioned what he described as a blanket claim over the entire property without first establishing the actual boundaries through a joint verification exercise.
Mwiru further argued that he acquired the property in good faith after conducting the necessary searches and following the legally established land transfer procedures.
He said he should not automatically be held responsible for any irregularities that might have occurred during the original processing or registration of the title in the name of Salamugo Investments Ltd, adding that any such concerns should be investigated and addressed in accordance with the law.
The MP also revealed that the matter was before the Committee on Physical Infrastructure alongside similar disputes affecting more than 50 other individuals.
He said while some of the affected persons had opted to pursue legal action, he had chosen to seek an amicable resolution through the relevant government institutions rather than immediately resorting to litigation.
Mwiru appealed to the committee to facilitate a joint boundary-opening exercise involving Uganda Railways Corporation, the Ministry of Lands and relevant surveying authorities to establish the actual boundaries, clarify competing ownership claims and provide a lasting solution.
He questioned the continued delay in conducting the exercise, arguing that if the Ministry of Lands had confidence in its records and the procedures through which the title was transferred, there should be no reason to delay an independent and transparent verification process.
He said his intention was to establish the truth, protect his investment and ensure that all parties respected the law, adding that neither individuals nor institutions should claim more land than they could legally demonstrate ownership of.
Mwiru maintained that land disputes of this nature should be resolved through accurate records, proper boundary verification, transparency and due process rather than leaving legitimate property owners uncertain about their investments.
