SEGUKU, Wakiso District — Tension gripped Seguku on Tuesday after residents from an estimated 500 households protested the closure of a community access road, accusing a local church of blocking a route they say has served the area for many years.
The disputed road connects several residential communities to the Kampala–Entebbe Highway, nearby schools and trading centres. Residents say its closure has disrupted daily movement, making it difficult for children to get to school, workers to reach their jobs and emergency vehicles to access the area.
The situation escalated when dozens of residents gathered at the blocked section, demanding that the road be reopened. They accused the church of closing the route without consulting the surrounding community.
“We have lived here for years, and this road has always been part of our daily life. Blocking it has caused serious hardship,” said resident David Ssemakula.
Church officials, however, defended their actions, insisting that the disputed section is part of land legally owned by the church.
According to Rev. Andrew Sserwadda, the road falls within church property and has been closed to pave the way for ongoing construction and expansion works.
“We respect the community, but this is private property. The developments underway are lawful, though we remain open to dialogue on access concerns,” Rev. Sserwadda said.
The standoff prompted intervention from local leaders, who appealed for calm as efforts to resolve the dispute got underway.
LC1 Chairperson Jane Nanyonga urged both the church and residents to avoid taking further action until the legal status of the contested road is established by the relevant authorities.
Police officers led by ASP Michael Byaruhanga were deployed to the scene to maintain order and prevent the confrontation from escalating while discussions continue.
The dispute highlights the growing conflicts over land ownership and access roads in rapidly urbanising areas such as Seguku, where expanding private developments increasingly overlap with long-established community pathways.