Da Dona
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- Dec 16, 2025
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A land dispute in Lukwanga, Wakiso District, turned deadly after police opened fire while dispersing residents who had attempted to stop the arrest of a man accused of assault.
One person was shot dead and another injured on Thursday after police opened fire to disperse a group of residents who had resisted the arrest of a colleague following a land dispute in Kataluko Village, Lukwanga, Wakiso District.
The deceased, identified as Joseph Ssenyondo, 40, a bricklayer, was reportedly passing by the scene when he was hit by a bullet. He died while being rushed to St Joseph Hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Another resident, Jacob Nsubuga Wasswa, was injured and remains admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Police officers from Bukasa Police Station had gone to the area to arrest a resident accused of assault in connection with the land dispute. However, residents reportedly attempted to stop the arrest, leading to a confrontation.
One eyewitness said residents had gathered after the person being arrested called for help.
The eyewitness alleged that police fired three shots, one of which struck Ssenyondo, while another injured Wasswa.
Residents accused land dealer Ssebanakitta of fueling land conflicts in the area through what they described as questionable dealings. He rejected the allegations.
Ssebanakitta said the land in question had been sold and that the buyer had started using it before a group of people allegedly assaulted him and took his money and mobile phone.
He said the victim reported the matter to police, prompting officers to trace those accused of the assault.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala confirmed the shooting and said investigations had begun.
Kawala said police had responded to a complaint related to a land dispute, but a confrontation broke out after officers arrived.
She said officers fired shots while attempting to disperse the crowd and that a resident was accidentally hit.
Kawala added that the police officer responsible for the shooting would be arrested as investigations continue.
The incident comes amid other disputes over land in Wakiso that have resulted in violence.
In February, Tom Kato, a resident of Kibujjo-Seeta in Bembe Parish, Namayumba Sub-county, Wakiso District, was killed in circumstances linked to a family land dispute. Police arrested his wife as investigations continued.
In another case, residents of Buwanuka Village in Namayumba Sub-county accused police and local leaders of working with a land surveyor in a dispute involving more than 1,000 residents over a contested 1,044.9-acre piece of land.
Daily Monitor UG
