A fresh land dispute has erupted between Phaneroo Ministries International and the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) over a contested prime property in Naguru, Kampala, reviving a conflict that traces back to a 2020 presidential directive.
According to details emerging from a parliamentary engagement, the government has now advised both parties to seek dialogue over the disputed land, which sits in one of Kampala’s most upscale neighborhoods.
The latest developments stem from a House Committee on Health meeting chaired by Hoima West MP Dr Joseph Ruyonga, where officials discussed the Health Ministry’s ministerial policy statement for the 2026/27 financial year.
Addressing the committee, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng urged calm and reconciliation, saying the best way forward is for the two institutions to sit down and negotiate a solution.
“That issue has been brought to my attention. The best is for the two sides to sit down and negotiate because as a country, we need the Uganda Heart Institute. Even those who pray from there need the Uganda Heart Institute,” Aceng said.
She explained that the Heart Institute is only seeking a small portion of the land believed to be on its side, where it plans to set up critical infrastructure to support patient care.
The minister also linked the dispute to the growing problem of noise pollution around the hospital, saying nearby worship activities have at times disrupted the care environment for heart patients.
“We also need to discuss the issue of noise because this is a heart institute and heart patients need quiet. You cannot tamper with the heart. So, we have a church nearby, and we will find a solution to the problem,” she added.
The land wrangle was thrust back into the spotlight after Bukomansimbi North MP Christine Ndiwalana accused Phaneroo of grabbing part of the institute’s land in Naguru.
The controversy intensified after UHI Executive Director Dr John Omagino told MPs that the ministry had initially directed the institute to cede 0.89 acres for an access route linked to a generator installation project.
However, he said the institute later discovered there was still residual land that could be utilized for expansion, prompting renewed contestation over ownership and usage rights.
The disputed land is part of the former Nakawa-Naguru estate, a historically contentious property that has over the years been subdivided and reallocated to multiple entities, including Phaneroo, Seven Hills Apartments, and other private developers.
Phaneroo, however, has pushed back against allegations of wrongdoing.
In a response attributed to one of the ministry’s communication officials, the church denied the existence of any direct land wrangle, insisting it has consistently engaged neighboring institutions through the Naguru development master plan framework.
“From our side, we believe in the spirit of mutual coexistence and that being said, we have no disputes with any of our neighbours,” the official said.
The official further argued that ownership concerns should be handled by the relevant government authorities, particularly the Ministry of Lands, which holds the official records.
The renewed standoff now places fresh focus on President Museveni’s 2020 request that UHI be allocated 10 acres to establish a specialized plant, a directive that appears to have triggered overlapping claims on the highly sought-after Naguru land.
With both institutions considered nationally significant—one in health care and the other in faith outreach—the government now faces mounting pressure to resolve the matter without disrupting medical services or community relations.
