The Committee on Physical Infrastructure has heard that a company linked to businessman Godfrey Kirumira has taken possession of land belonging to the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC).
The matter emerged as the committee chaired by Hon. Mwine Mpaka met URC officials led by the Managing Director, Benon Kajuna to examine queries on missing railway wagons, disputed railway land and concerns over procurement and training in the organisation. The meeting took place on Thursday, 30 July 2026.
The land of 1.3 acres sits exactly in front of the Uganda Railways Headquarters in Kampala opposite Victoria University.
Kajuna said that the property was originally leased by the then Kampala District Land Board to Kampala City Council (KCC) for 99 years in 2000.
He added that on 01 June 2006, KCC granted a five-year lease to Philadelphia Trade and Industry Limited.
Kajuna said the company later sought to convert the lease into a 99-year interest but maintained that the process was never completed because a caveat was lodged over the property in 2012.
"There was an intention to extend the interest to 99 years but this did not happen. On 27 April 2012, a caveat was lodged over the property before completion of the proposed extension," Kajuna said.
However, Mwine Mpaka challenged the explanation saying that the committee had conducted its own investigations and found that Philadelphia Trade and Industry Limited currently holds a 99-year lease over the land.
"We did a search as a committee yesterday and he (Kirumira) actually has 99 years on this land and he is MS Philadelphia," Mpaka said.
Mpaka added that the committee had conducted a search with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) which revealed that Philadelphia Trade and Industry Limited is owned by members of the Kirumira family.
The committee is expected to meet Kirumira over the matter.
On the issue of land management, Kajuna said URC had repeatedly written to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development seeking the return of land titles retained following the privatisation process but had not received a response.
He noted that the corporation may be compelled to apply for special certificates of title using available documentation should the matter remain unresolved.
He said that as a way of safeguarding their land, they will undertake boundary reopening, title migration, re-surveys and action against illegal titles, while revealing that more than 24,600 encroachment cases have been identified along railway corridors.
Kajuna added that government has invested over Shs100 billion for the rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway and Shs105 billion for the acquisition and rehabilitation of rolling stock and other critical railway infrastructure. He said the investments are expected to improve freight operations, enhance passenger services and restore confidence in rail transport as a cost-effective mode of moving cargo.
On railway safety, Kajuna said the corporation has intensified interventions aimed at reducing accidents along the network including upgrading level crossings, installing boom barriers, deploying crossing guards at high-risk locations and conducting public awareness campaigns to promote safe use of railway infrastructure.
