Written By | Peter Luzinda
Yusuf Ssemakula
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KAMPALA
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) has dismissed allegations circulating on social media accusing it of interfering with court proceedings, describing the claims as a calculated smear campaign orchestrated by a suspected land grabber seeking to frustrate ongoing investigations.
In a press statement issued on Monday, June 22, SH-ACU said the publications falsely accused the Unit of interfering in judicial processes relating to two land disputes before the High Court Land Division.
According to the Unit, the social media posts cited High Court (Land Division) Miscellaneous Application No. 059 of 2025, arising from Civil Suit No. 111 of 2025, and Miscellaneous Application No. 2997 of 2024, arising from Civil Suit No. 613 of 2018, as evidence of alleged interference.
SH-ACU rejected the allegations, saying the publications resembled previous online attacks allegedly linked to Yusuf Ssemakula, whom it described as a "notorious land grabber" currently under investigation.
The Unit said the publications were intended to divert attention from investigations into alleged land grabbing and to intimidate investigators through social media propaganda.
Namugongo land dispute
SH-ACU said the first matter concerns land on Kyadondo Block 185, Plots 11407 and 11408 in Namugongo, Kira Municipality.
According to the Unit, Dr. Winnie Nyemera reported on May 12, 2026, that her perimeter wall had allegedly been demolished by Yusuf Ssemakula. She also claimed that instead of protecting her interests, local police detained her when she attempted to reconstruct the fence.
SH-ACU said its investigations established that Dr. Nyemera had acquired a kibanja interest in the property in 2017 and had occupied the land since then. The Unit further stated that witness statements and previous court proceedings acknowledged her occupation of part of the land.
Investigators said they documented the scene and interviewed witnesses before coordinating with the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Kira and police authorities to restore calm.
The Unit also said another complainant, Hezekiah Mukiibi, accused Ssemakula of harassment and the alleged irregular placement of caveats on several land titles.
Kitukutwe land case
The second dispute relates to land on Kyadondo Block 180, including Plots 3 and 15453–15462, located in Kitukutwe, Kira Municipality.
SH-ACU said several residents, including Mawanda Moses and Kabugo William, reported that Ssemakula had allegedly forcefully entered their land, destroyed crops, undertaken earthworks, and caused criminal charges to be instituted against them.
The Unit said investigations found that ownership disputes over the land remain before court but alleged that Ssemakula had forcefully occupied parts of the property, including land occupied by individuals he purportedly represented.
SH-ACU further claimed that verification of a consent order allegedly issued in Civil Suit No. 613 of 2018 established that the presiding judge had neither signed nor issued the document.
Investigators said they recovered construction tools, including wheelbarrows, spades, iron bars, and other equipment allegedly being used to develop the disputed land.
According to the Unit, preliminary investigations indicated that the complainants had occupied the land for more than 25 years.
Previous investigations
SH-ACU also referred to previous incidents involving Ssemakula, including an alleged land dispute in Ntinda in December 2022 and another in Namugongo in November 2022, where the Unit says it intervened following complaints of unlawful land occupation despite pending court proceedings.
The Unit further noted that Ssemakula previously filed a civil suit against SH-ACU leadership, the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, and other government officials, alleging disregard of court orders.
According to SH-ACU, the case was dismissed by the court in October 2025.
SH-ACU defends mandate
The Anti-Corruption Unit maintained that it operates within the law and in coordination with the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Inspectorate of Government, the Uganda Police Force, Resident District Commissioners, and other government agencies.
It said its mandate is to investigate complaints of corruption, abuse of office, and related forms of impunity.
SH-ACU also stated that Yusuf Ssemakula had been summoned to record a statement but had allegedly failed to cooperate with investigators.
The Unit said investigations remain ongoing and that it would continue working with other security agencies to pursue individuals suspected of offences, including forcible entry, malicious damage to property, and the alleged fraudulent acquisition of land titles. Efforts to obtain a response from Yusuf Ssemakula regarding the allegations were not immediately successful by press time.
Torch Media Africa
