Uganda minister orders reopening of disputed Rushebeya market land

Uganda's Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara has ordered the reopening of part of the government land housing Rushebeya Market in Rukiga District, which was fenced off in April 2026.

The land at Rushebeya Trading Centre in Rwamucucu Sub-county hosts a public market that operates twice a month and serves traders from across the region. The disputed section was allegedly fenced off by former Rukiga District Woman MP Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi and her husband, Andrew Muhwezi, who residents said warned them against accessing it.

Balaam intervened on Thursday during his nationwide anti-corruption tour, making the site his first stop in the district. He ordered the arrest of a tenant accused of withholding Shs2 million in rent on the couple's instructions and directed that she be handed to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit; she was taken to Rukiga Police Station. Neither Kamusiime nor Muhwezi was present to respond to the allegations.

Rukiga Resident District Commissioner Zadock Kamusiime said government is expected to compensate affected parties but that the land should remain under government control for public use as a market. Balaam directed residents and traders to resume using the land as government engages the Chief Government Valuer to determine compensation, and said the couple should seek legal redress if they disagree with the presidential directive on compulsory acquisition.

The dispute dates back years. In November 2017 unidentified individuals began surveying the market land and inmates from Ndorwa Government Prison were deployed to demarcate and fence it, prompting protests. Local accounts also link the dispute to a 2015 case in which David Gakyaro sued Rwamucucu Sub-county leaders over trees cut without authorisation; the Kabale High Court ordered Shs11 million in damages, of which Shs6 million was paid, after which Gakyaro obtained an order to attach the market land.