Paul Mwiru, a former Member of Parliament for Jinja East who has transitioned through several political parties (FDC to ANT and now NUP), is now entangled in a legal battle over the ownership of Igenge Palace, the official residence of the Kyabazinga of Busoga. Mwiru reportedly collaborates with a group of thirty individuals to challenge the monarchy’s claim to the palace, following his controversial acquisition of Busoga Radio One.
The palace, located on Igenge Hill, is a vital cultural site for the Busoga kingdom, hosting various royal events and educational projects. Joseph Muvawala, the prime minister of Busoga, has publicly asserted the kingdom’s ownership, declaring on a recent radio talk show that the land was officially designated for the Kyabazinga’s palace in the 20th century, representing the unity of the region’s 11 chiefdoms.
“That land belongs to the institution of the Isebantu Kyabazinga of Busoga; the kingdom is prepared to defend its ownership rights,” Muvawala emphasized.
However, concerns have arisen regarding Mwiru’s intentions. According to Ivan Ngobi, a senior manager at one of Busoga’s radio stations, Mwiru has been methodically encroaching on kingdom property, starting with the radio station and now targeting the palace land.
“Initially, we did not take the rumors seriously, but Mwiru’s actions have prompted us to start asking questions,” Ngobi explained.
Mwiru’s tactics have raised eyebrows within the community. He allegedly previously ran a company, BIT Technology Ltd., which was accused of deceptive practices before merging into Busoga FM Ltd., using the same frequency as the kingdom’s radio. Ngobi also accused Mwiru of manipulating administrative processes, including unauthorized changes to the Uganda Revenue Authority’s (URA) portal.
“He did not stop there with his cunningness; he went to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and changed the URA portal TIN login details without consent from Kyabazinga. I am very sure he orchestrated the takeover of Igenge by conniving with other individuals to claim the kingdom’s land,“ Ngobi added.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Mwiru’s acquisition strategy involved gaining the trust of kingdom officials during his tenure at the radio station, enabling him to better understand the inner workings of the Busoga monarchy.
“These 30 individuals have been arranged by Mwiru to cause confusion over these Igenge properties; I would not be shocked if he has forged the Kyabazinga’s signature,” a source indicated.
As the community watches these developments unfold, the stakes are high for both Mwiru and the Busoga monarchy. Will Mwiru succeed in his quest to claim kingdom land, or will the traditional authority stand firm against this unprecedented challenge?
The people of Busoga await the court’s decision, hoping it will reaffirm the rightful ownership of Igenge Palace.
