The High Court in Kampala has halted the planned compensation of 3.8 billion Shillings to city businessman Dovodiko Mwanje, on whose orders, the structures of St Peters Church of Uganda in Ndeeba, were demolished.
The Principal Judge Flavian Zeija made the ruling yesterday noting that the said compensation should be stayed until the main suit in which Mwanje claimed ownership of the land will be determined.
In February 2021, the government presented to parliament a supplementary budget to aid the compulsory acquisition of land of the Ndeeba Church of Uganda which was razed down in 2020.
Although parliament had queried the move, an Ad Hoc committee on land compensation led by Veronica Eragu Bichetero later sanctioned payment of 3.8 billion Shillings to Dodoviko Mwanje.
However, Lucy Nsubuga, the widow of late Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga, through her lawyer Jamir Mpiima ran to court seeking orders to halt the payment pending the hearing and final disposal of the suit where she is challenging the ownership of the land.
Mpiima also adds that if Mwanje is awarded the compensation money, the development might affect the matters in the main suit thus affecting the interests of his client.
Meanwhile, Mwanje also welcomed the court decision noting that the ongoing process was oppressing him as the government was forcefully wanting to give him the compensation.
