In his application, Mabirizi lists the Attorney General of Uganda as one of the respondents. He argues that these activities are scheduled to commence on October 1st, 2023, targeting settlers on official mailo land registered in their names.
Lawyer Male Mabirizi has petitioned the
Constitutional Court, seeking a temporary injunction to halt the activities
involving the Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi, and his agents.
These activities include mass settlers' registration and the collection of
ground rent (Busuulu Collections).
In his application, Mabirizi lists the Attorney General of Uganda
as one of the respondents. He argues that these activities are scheduled to
commence on October 1st, 2023, targeting settlers on official mailo land
registered in their names. Mabirizi's requests to the court include preventing
Kabaka and his agencies, such as Buganda Land Board and Enkuluze (Royal
Treasury), from conducting activities that portray them as registered owners of
the official mailo land.
This includes imposing registration fees, making threats against
individuals living on Mailo land, and collecting a 10 percent charge of the
sale value of land or Kibanja on the official Mailo land. He also seeks to halt
the collection of money from non-lease Buganda people in the area and
government agencies, including ministries, police, courts, UPDF, KCCA, and
local governments from supporting Kabaka in carrying out these activities.
Mabirizi's argument is rooted in his contention that Kabaka is
merely a trustee of the official Mailo land, and all charges related to it are
illegal. Notably, Mabirizi filed a petition in 2022 challenging Kabaka's
actions of presenting himself as the registered owner of official Mailo land
and the government's support for such claims. Despite the pending petition, he
claims that the respondents have continued with their activities and have
announced a mass settler's registration and ground rent collection starting the
following month. Mabirizi argues that if the court does not grant his application,
there is an imminent danger that the respondents will proceed with these
exercises, potentially causing irreparable harm to him.
//Cue
in: “Nteseyo application namba….
Cue out: “Wadde okupangisa government,”//
This is not the first time Mabirizi has attempted to halt ground
rent collections. In 2020, Supreme Court Judge Dr.
Esther Kisakye declined his application
to stop these collections, and in 2017, a High Court decision by Patricia Basaza ordering the Kabaka to provide certain information was overturned
by the Court of Appeal panels of justices led by Justice Egonda Ntende. Mabirizi has now filed a similar case in the Constitutional Court,
which is pending a determination.