The High Court Criminal Division sitting at the Entebbe Circuit has sentenced notorious Wakiso land grabber Charles Kyagaba to a total of eight years in prison after convicting him on multiple counts of obtaining money by false pretences.
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit under State House, Kyagaba was found guilty on two counts of obtaining money by false pretences, with the court handing him four years’ imprisonment on each count, to be served consecutively.
In its ruling, the court noted that Kyagaba and his associates—who are still at large—had for years orchestrated a scheme targeting residents of Wakiso District, particularly in Entebbe, by fraudulently claiming ownership of private land and selling it to unsuspecting buyers.
“The convict and his accomplices engaged in sustained fraudulent conduct involving land transactions, causing significant financial loss and distress to victims,” the court observed in its judgment.
The court further found that Kyagaba’s conduct extended beyond fraud, including elements of malicious damage to property and fraudulent procurement of land titles, reinforcing what prosecutors described as a well-organised land-grabbing network operating in the area.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said Kyagaba’s conviction marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to combat land fraud, which has become one of the most persistent forms of corruption affecting communities in Wakiso and surrounding districts.
Officials noted that several of Kyagaba’s alleged accomplices remain on the run and are expected to face prosecution once apprehended.
Residents who have previously accused the group of land grabbing welcomed the ruling, saying it offers long-awaited relief, though they urged authorities to recover affected properties and fully dismantle the network.
The case adds to a growing number of land-related corruption prosecutions in central Uganda, where fraudulent land titles and contested ownership remain a major legal and social challenge.