It was jubilation and merrymaking at Mukono’s Mt. Lebanon Christian Centre Church following a High Court ruling dismissing a land ownership land filed by Methodist Church of Uganda against seven defendants attached to Mt. Lebanon Church.
The ruling made by Justice Jacqueline Mwondha as its genesis in an earlier one that was filed by the same plaintiffs against one Lawrence Matovu who obtained land on which Mt. Lebanon Church stands, after cancellation of a lease between the United Methodist Church and the then landlord Robert Ssenfuma.
In 2023, Mt. Lebanon Christian Centre Church and Lawrence Matovu ran to court contesting a decision by the United Methodist Church to demolish and evict the former. The church located on Block 530 Kyaggwe, Plot 13 Kame Close in Mukono, was constructed on leased land owned by Robert Ssenfuma.
Amasomero Gapaaluusizza Ffiizi Ku Bagenda mu S5-Agamu Gasabye Obukadde Busatu
According to records before court, the United Methodist Church had previously sued Pr. Samuel Lwandasa of Mt. Lebanon Church as an individual for obtaining a fraudulent special title over their land where he constructed the church and his house.
For over ten years, the plaintiffs have been making all efforts to take control of the land on which Mt. Lebanon Church stands, seeking court’s revocation of the latter’s occupation of the same. The defendants have been defended by lawyers from two law firms including Mugerwa and Partners Advocates, and Musangala and Co Advocates and Solicitors.
While the two tenant churches battled in court, Ssenfuma, the landlord, terminated the lease of the United Methodist Church and gave a lease of 10 years to Mt. Lebanon Christian Centre Church Ltd. Later, Ssenfuma sold the land to Lawrence Matovu, the second objector.
The applicants, Mt. Lebanon Christian Centre Church Ltd and Lawrence Matovu, were not party to the civil suit and its appeal, and therefore, the application was granted with costs to the objectors in the interest of justice.
In today’s ruling, Justice Mwondha dismissed a second case filed by the same plaintiffs against seven defendants including Mt. Lebanon Church, Lawrence Matovu, Difas Kabugo, Robert Ssenfuma, the Registrar of Titles, and Rebecca Kibulire Mukasa jointly with Elizabeth Nabeta.
The defendants were represented by lawyers from Mugerwa and Partners Advocates, and Musangala and Co Advocates and Solicitors, who expressed happiness at the end of the case that has dragged on for many years.
They said they are happy that finally, their clients can freely enjoy occupancy of their land in addition to reimbursement of costs incurred during the course of the court proceedings.
In his comment, Samuel Lwandasa, a lead pastor of the Mt. Lebanon Church attributed their victory to what he called intervention by God whom he claims has been their lead guide. Lwandasa thanked the judiciary for justice which has finally proved the innocence of the church.
“It’s unfortunate that the plaintiffs have been fighting tooth and nail to have our church demolished, a very unfortunate act which wouldn’t be wished by any Christian at any church even when it’s not of your faith,” Lwandasa said.
Joan Muwanguzi, a pastor, said the church has gone a long way in salvaging them from the vices imposed by the devil, and that they have had sleepless nights playing for God’s intervention to avoid its intended demolition.
Other believers including Noah Kabuusu and Nesphori Mugabi expressed untold happiness for the end of the case which they said has kept believers on tenterhooks for years. They said they depended on God and prayed to him to bring them to a happy ending, something which at last came to pass.
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