IGP Byakagaba Cracks Down on Land Grabbing, Restructures Land Protection Unit

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba has implemented sweeping reforms to tackle the surge in land-related crimes, transferring the Land Protection Unit from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) to the Directorate of Legal and Human Rights.

The restructuring, first reported by SpyReports, has sparked widespread discussion within police circles and among the public. Many see it as a strategic move to strengthen legal oversight of land disputes and to crack down on illegal land transactions.

Under the new setup, Commissioner of Police (CP) James Kusemererwa has been appointed to lead the Land Protection Unit, with Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Musani Sabila serving as his deputy.

A senior official from the IGP’s office said the transfer is aimed at enhancing the unit’s ability to handle the legal, operational, and criminal aspects of land-related cases more effectively.

Sources revealed that President Yoweri Museveni had earlier warned IGP Byakagaba about organized criminal groups — described as “mafias” — allegedly working with corrupt CID officers to illegally acquire land. Reports indicate that in several instances, fraudulent or expired court orders were used to evict legitimate landowners, fueling public mistrust in law enforcement.

In response, the Uganda Police Force has now made it mandatory for all court orders relating to evictions to be thoroughly vetted and approved by police legal officers before any action is taken. “Every eviction order must now be reviewed and cleared by the legal department before it can be enforced,” a senior official at Naguru Police Headquarters confirmed.

The reforms come in the wake of a high-profile land dispute in Kiboga District, where a wealthy businessman allegedly used forged documents to forcefully evict residents. President Museveni personally intervened after it emerged that police officers had unknowingly supported the unlawful evictions.

By shifting the Land Protection Unit under the Directorate of Legal and Human Rights, led by AIGP Counsel Charles Kataratambi, the Uganda Police Force hopes to rebuild public trust and ensure land conflicts are resolved within the framework of the law.