What you need to know:
- The family says that despite multiple attempts by the family to engage the prominent lawyer directly and through their legal representatives, he has consistently declined to acknowledge their claim.
A household in the Wakiso District has asked the police for help after facing recurrent harassment, threats, and damage to their possessions allegedly from individuals attempting to seize their land.
The children and beneficiaries of the late Pius Grace Ssessanga’s estate say they live in constant fear due to ongoing threats and alleged land-related manoeuvres involving a prominent lawyer and a former minister.
A criminal trespass case has been reported at Kibiri Police Post in Wakiso District after property on the disputed land, including eucalyptus trees and a mesh fence, was destroyed. The police reference number for the case is 33/22/05/2025.
So far, two suspects only identified as Kassujja and Ben have been named.
Speaking to
Monitor
on Sunday, Ms Martina Nanteza, a family member, said: “We reported to police, but they told us to call them only when the destruction was happening.”
She stated, “They declined to get involved simply because a grader was stationed nearby.”
The heart of the disagreement revolves around a 1.6-acre plot located in Ziranumbu, Busabala, within the Wakiso District. These parcels came into existence due to reported divisions conducted at the beginning of 2025 by both the city lawyer and a previous minister.
The family states that the property was initially obtained by the late Pius Grace Ssessanga in 1981 as a Kibanja interest from Mr. Frasiko Sekimpi, who belongs to the traditional Sekimpi clan of the Enjovu (Elephant) group originating from the Ziranumbu region.
The acquisition took place before the formal registration of the property, which was documented in 1982 under the name of Christopher Sekimpi. It should be noted that Christopher Sekimpi was also the witness to Mr. Ssessanga’s purchase contract.
The Ssessanga family asserts that in 1985, prior to Mr. Ssessanga officially registering his property and unbeknownst to him, a substantial part of the land—including the area claimed by Mr. Ssessanga—was allegedly handed over from Mr. Sekimpi to the parent of the municipal attorney and past government official.
“Sadly, Ssessanga passed away unexpectedly in 1989, leaving behind six young children, the oldest being just 10 years old at the time. Regardless of their vulnerable situation, this family has continuously occupied their land without interruption for many years. Today, evidence of their longstanding presence includes mature eucalyptus trees (more than ten years old), a dwelling, and a concrete boundary wall surrounding what remains of their Kibanja area on Ziranumbu Hill,” stated Ms Nanteza.
She continued: “However, the situation sharply deteriorated in 2020, more than 35 years after the original purchase, when the prominent lawyer assumed administrative control over his late father’s estate.”
The family reports that interference and harassment have intensified, as multiple people claim to have bought parts of the property without their permission.
“This is despite the S.sessanga family’s ongoing occupancy and a signed purchase agreement dating back to 1981—four years prior to the 1985 transfer to the lawyer and former minister’s family,” Ms. Nanteza clarified.
Despite several efforts made by the family both directly and via their legal representatives to reach out to the renowned attorney, he has persistently refused to recognize their assertion.
Several Ssessanga beneficiaries filed caveats in 2020 concerning the subdivisions impacting their interests. During this period, the estate was managed by the Administrator General since the beneficiaries were still minors at the time of Ssessanga’s passing.
Nonetheless, the family claims they were surprised to find out that several reservations they had made regarding the contested land parcels were later taken off without any judicial directive or written approval from those who filed them.
This occurred particularly in 2024 when the former minister took on the role of an extra administrator. As grown-ups, the Ssessanga family aims to rescind the Administrator General’s powers and secure complete legal management over the estate. The matter is now under judicial review.
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