The Uganda Police land dispute in Lira City has escalated as police officers defied a court injunction by entering the contested property at Ireda Housing Estate. Armed officers recently escorted a man operating a tractor to clear part of the disputed land for cultivation.
This happened despite a High Court order issued on May 21, 2025, which barred police from accessing or using the land. The court granted this interim order while awaiting a full hearing of the case filed by Lira District Council and the District Land Board.
Superintendent of Police Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga regional spokesperson, defended the police action. “I have not seen the interim injunction. This land belongs to the Uganda Police. If we don’t use it, who should?” he said in a phone interview.
The disputed property covers 12 plots within Ireda Housing Estate. In a 2023 court ruling, the land was declared police property. The court found that several political and administrative leaders had acquired these plots fraudulently between 2019 and 2020. They reportedly used names of close relatives—mothers, wives, daughters, and brothers—to obtain the plots illegally.
Alleged beneficiaries include a former district vice chairperson, a former District Land Board chairperson, a former district speaker, and a Ministry Zonal Office official. The disputed land was part of a case filed in 2018 by three residents: Stephen Alele, Isaac Omara, and Anthony Odur. They sued the Lira District leadership and Land Board for allocating public land unlawfully.
In that ruling, the court confirmed that the land near Akii-Bua Stadium belongs to the Uganda Police Force. It declared any sale or transfer of the plots illegal. The judgment also covered administrative and residential buildings in Ojwina Division, formerly known as Lira Sub-county.
Justice Alex Mackay Ajiji, the resident judge, ruled that the District Council and Land Board had overstepped their authority. “This land came under the Uganda Police after the Local Administration Police merged into the national force,” the judge stated.
Mr. Alele said the Land Board ignored an earlier injunction and continued to allocate plots while the case was still active. “That’s contempt of court,” he said. He filed a new complaint at Lira Central Police Station demanding further investigation.
Following his complaint, police summoned former Land Board secretary Hellen Anyango in March 2023 to help with investigations.
The land dispute traces back to a 2018 public notice signed by then Chief Administrative Officer Mark Tivu. He had invited the public to apply for plots in Erute, some of which were already under dispute.
The court issued a permanent injunction stopping the District Land Board and Council from reallocating or selling the property. The judge emphasized that taking land from police officers interferes with their ability to serve the public effectively.
Although the ruling was clear, much of the land had already been divided and handed out. As police continue to access and use the land, tensions remain high. The final court decision is still pending.
Mr. Alele insisted, “The Land Board ignored court orders and acted illegally by continuing with the plot allocations.”
The Uganda Police land dispute highlights growing friction between public institutions and law enforcement over contested land ownership. With court orders in place but enforcement lagging, the legal conflict is far from over.
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