In a decisive move to uphold the law, the Kiboga Magistrates Court has convicted Ainebyona Ronald for violently evicting residents from disputed land. The court sentenced him to one and a half years in prison or a fine of UGX 3.5 million for charges including forcible entry, malicious damage, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Ainebyona’s actions first came under scrutiny on 14th March 2025, when he stormed Lwakonge Village in Kiboga District, forcefully evicting several occupants from land located in Block 542, Plot 2. During the eviction, the accused destroyed plantations and assaulted some of the residents, leaving the community shaken.
The case drew national attention after the Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Brig Gen Henry Isoke, responded to a directive from H.E. the President to investigate the criminal elements of the dispute. Other government offices, including the Ministry of Lands, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, collaborated to ensure that justice was served.
The land dispute at the center of the case involves a conflict between descendants of departed Asians, who hold a freehold title dating back to 1932, and Mwanje Badru, who obtained a mailo title in 1999. Ainebyona had claimed he was acting on behalf of the departed Asians in evicting Mwanje and other residents, a defense the court ultimately dismissed.
This conviction sends a strong message that violent land grabs and illegal evictions will not be tolerated in Uganda. Residents and legal experts alike have praised the court’s decision, highlighting it as a victory for the rule of law and protection of property rights.
