By Spy Uganda Investigations Desk
Kampala-State Minister for Lands, Hon. Sam Mayanja, is facing renewed accusations of partiality and abuse of office in land matters, this time from Southern Range Nyanza Limited (NYTIL), one of Uganda’s prominent textile companies.
In a strongly worded petition dated 25th April 2025 and addressed to Col. Edith Nakalema of the State House Investors Protection Unit, NYTIL accuses Minister Mayanja of aiding “fraudulent land grabbers” in an ongoing dispute over land in Njeru, Buikwe District.
“RE: PETITION/COMPLAINT AGAINST HON MAYANJA SAM, MINISTER OF STATE FOR LANDS OVER ASSISTING / AIDING FRAUDULENT LAND GRABBERS (ABUSE OF OFFICE)…” the letter begins, adding that the contested land belongs to NYTIL under Leasehold Register Volume (LRV) 403 Folio 3, Plots 22-52 and 21-51 Njeru.
The company claims Minister Mayanja ordered the arrest and prosecution of its senior management “without ever hearing from them” after a complaint was made by a one Andrew Mugarura of Modern Organizers Limited. The complaint, NYTIL says, falsely alleged that the textile company had grabbed private land.
“…Minister Sam Mayanja directs the Town Clerk to have top management of NYTIL arrested and prosecuted for breach of the Road Act without ever hearing from them,” the petition reads.
In response, NYTIL has appealed directly to President Yoweri Museveni, urging him to intervene through the State House Investors Protection Unit to shield legitimate investors from what they describe as ministerial overreach and misuse of public office.
This is not the first time Hon. Mayanja has come under fire for his handling of land disputes. He has previously been accused of taking sides in several high-profile wrangles, often bypassing legal procedures and allegedly acting on selective information. These controversies have sparked widespread criticism over his perceived lack of professionalism and transparency.
NYTIL reminds authorities that the land in question was legally acquired during the privatization of the former Nyanza Textile Industries Limited in 1996, and that their ownership is well documented.
“The assets of former Nyanza Textile Industries Limited were sold to NYTIL promoters… Land comprised in LRV 403 FOLIO 3 PLOTS 22-52 AND 21-51 Njeru was part of the sold properties,” the letter emphasizes.
A copy of NYTIL’s land title confirms they hold a 99-year lease beginning from 1st November 1951, making their claim predating the allegedly fraudulent title obtained during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
The petition further reveals that during the lockdown, a company called Nile SEZ Limited—linked to Mr. Mugarura—acquired a freehold title (FRV MK 02147, Folio 17, Plot 40-52) which was superimposed on NYTIL’s existing leasehold title, creating a case of double titling. A joint boundary opening exercise on 14th June 2021, conducted by the Buikwe District Land Board and Municipal officials, concluded that the new title overlapped with NYTIL’s land, but the recommendations to cancel the freehold were ignored.
Moreover, NYTIL alleges that an illegal road was created through their undeveloped land—planned for a \$25 million spinning mill—without compensation. This, they claim, was facilitated by local officials including Haji Sekitto, under the pretext of enabling access for a local hotel project by Modern Organizers Limited.
Despite prior engagements with the State House Investors Protection Unit and even agreeing to provide peripheral land for road construction, NYTIL says Hon. Mayanja later entered the fray without giving them a chance to be heard. The Minister allegedly ordered the destruction of their perimeter wall and presided over a one-sided meeting on 19th December 2024 where NYTIL was not represented.
As a result, NYTIL has filed Civil Suit No. 22/25 at Mukono High Court against Hon. Mayanja and others. They argue that the application of Section 61 of the Roads Act to justify road construction on their property without compensation is unconstitutional and undermines their bona fide property rights.
“The actions of Hon. Minister Sam Mayanja simply frustrate investment in Uganda given that they are not founded on any tangible proof. Above all, the Minister is just unwilling to accord Bonafide investors like promoters of NYTIL a fair hearing,” the company protests in its petition.
They have now called on Col. Nakalema’s office to rein in the alleged ministerial overreach and ensure justice prevails to avoid deterring other investors from doing business in Uganda.
See Full Petition Below
