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Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd led by Hamis Kiggundu with his team visiting the controvertial catholic shrine under attack. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
A contentious land dispute has erupted between Kampala city tycoon Hajj Hamis Kiggundu and St. Balikuddembe Catholic Church over sacred land housing a martyrs' shrine in the city center, threatening the sanctity of this historic Roman Catholic spiritual hub. The contested site contains burial grounds of Uganda's first Catholic Martyr, St. Joseph Mukasa Balikuddembe, and St. Athanasius Bazzeketta, who was speared and later hacked to death for his religious beliefs on May 27, 1886, at Nakivubo on his way to Namugongo.
Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd led by Hamis Kiggundu visiting St. Balikuddembe catholic church shrine under the dispute. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
According to staunch believers, this site has long been a central pillar of the Catholic faith in the Buganda region. The two martyrs were killed on orders of Kabaka Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga II Mukasa, the then King of Buganda. Regarded as a sacred site by Christians who honor the Uganda Martyrs, the construction of the Jugula drainage channel at the entrance of St. Balikuddembe Catholic Parish Church shrine by a Muslim developer has sparked backlash. Believers have attempted to stop the extension of Ham Shopping Mall, albeit unsuccessfully. “They started construction on our land during the night, and during the day, he deploys plain-clothed security men to scare us away. He is building on land that belongs to the church, all under the pretext of developing the area by working on a drainage channel, which is part of our land,” said Morris Lubega, the St. Balikuddembe catechist. “We bought construction materials ourselves to cover the open drainage channel with permission from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). But Kiggundu sent criminal goons to erect an iron sheet fence on our land before beginning illegal construction,” he added.
Lubega claimed Kiggundu has used plain-clothed security operatives and "kanyamas" (goons) to intimidate Christians visiting the shrine, threatening to demolish more of the fence and seize additional land.
“Kiggundu is greedy. He already built his shopping malls, and the drainage channel served as a boundary. But he continued encroaching until he erected a fence and began building on church land that has housed the Catholic shrine for 138 years,” Lubega explained.
“The shrine was opened on May 17, 1886, in what is now Owino Market. We were shocked to learn Kiggundu had acquired a land title extending into church land, even blocking our access to the prayer site and denying us parking space,” he added.
St. Balikuddembe Catholic Church Parish Shrine at Owino in Kampala which is under threat by Ham Management Enterprises which has constructed near its entrance. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
At the center of the dispute is a drainage channel adjacent to the shrine and Owino Market, which Hamis Kiggundu claims he purchased from the Buganda Land Board. However, the St. Balikuddembe Catholic community insists the land is part of the shrine’s original grounds, donated by the Buganda Kingdom in 1920.
“We are shocked and dismayed by Kiggundu's claims,” said Lawrence Kilwana, a Marriage Leader at St. Balikuddembe Parish. “This land is sacred, and its ownership has never been in question. We will not stand idly by while our heritage is demolished.”
The dispute has sparked outrage among Catholics and conservationists who fear Kiggundu’s plans will desecrate the shrine's surroundings. “This is not just a Catholic issue; it's a national concern,” said Peter Mubiru, a cultural activist. “The Martyrs' Shrine is a symbol of Uganda’s history and identity. We cannot allow its sanctity to be compromised.”
The dispute highlights the complexities of land ownership and the challenges religious institutions face in protecting their properties. Mubiru appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene.
“Kiggundu has taken over our land and Owino Market, but we shall fight until we reclaim what is rightfully ours,” Mubiru added.
Saad Lukwago, chairman of Muzaana Zone, Kisenyi Parish, Kampala Central, said Kiggundu encroached on land used by both the church and street vendors.
“The unjust eviction of street vendors and St. Balikuddembe fellowship members has greatly disrupted activities on the disputed land,” he noted.
St. Balikuddembe Catholic christians addressing the media after a church service that was attended by a handful of christians. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Lukwago wants Ham prosecuted
While Kiggundu appears to have brushed off criticism from KCCA, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago insists Ham should be prosecuted like any other Ugandan citizen.
“Through the Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, President Museveni has enabled land grabbers to operate with impunity, shielding criminals under the guise of development,” Lukwago said.
In a letter dated November 11, 2024, KCCA ordered Kiggundu to stop constructing permanent structures on top of the drainage channel. The enforcement notice was addressed to the management of Ham Enterprises and signed by Douglas Nsubuga on behalf of KCCA’s Director of Physical Planning, Vincent Byendaimira.
“In accordance with Section 46 of the Physical Planning Act 2010, the committee is satisfied you are carrying out illegal developments on plots 26 and 28 Nakivubo in the Central Division. Provide us with approved plans and a survey report within seven days. Failure to comply will result in prosecution,” the notice stated.
Kiggundu has since defied KCCA’s orders and continued construction on the disputed land. Lukwago vowed legal action.
Kiggundu responds
Kiggundu maintains that he legally acquired the land and possesses documentation proving ownership.
“I purchased the land and have all the necessary documents. The accusations are mere falsehoods and blackmail,” Kiggundu said.
“There is a road, not a drainage channel, separating my land from the church. How could I be building on church land? The KCCA boundary survey dated May 27, 2024, confirms that the land is mine,” he argued.
Byendaimira himself witnessed the survey report, which noted that, based on Ministry of Lands records, the Jugula drainage channel has no planned drainage reserve.
“The existing wall fence partially encroaches on Nakivubo Close, with the extent of encroachment ranging from 0.5m to 2.7m. St. Balikuddembe market stalls also encroach by about 7.8m,” Kiggundu said.
Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd led by Hamis Kiggundu explaining how he got St. Balikuddembe catholic church shrine land under the dispute. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
Historical context
Historical records show the Buganda Kingdom donated the land to the Catholic Church in 1920 for the construction of the Martyrs’ Shrine. Ownership of the land had never been contested until now.
As tensions rise, concerns grow over the potential impact on the shrine’s spiritual importance and tourism revenue. The shrine honors the Uganda Martyrs—22 Catholic and 23 Anglican converts who were executed between 1885 and 1887 for their faith.
The Catholic community of St. Balikuddembe sees this land as deeply significant, both historically and spiritually. For updates, check with local news outlets or the Kampala Archdiocese.
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