State House summons Col. Francis Ongia over church land dispute

Amolatar | The legal department of State House has summoned retired Colonel Ongia Francis and Mirembe Joseph, representing Salva Ministries.

They are to attend a meeting to discuss and resolve the parties’ ongoing land disputes.

The meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., according to a letter dated February 21, 2025, signed by Flora Kiconco on behalf of the Principal Private Secretary to the President and copied to the RDC of Amolatar, the DPC, and the LC1 chairperson of Alwala village.

Counsel Ayebare Glorious will chair the meeting. The summon comes as land disputes involving Ongia and Mirembe Joseph (Salva Ministries) escalate.

The letter also states that Mirembe Joseph, on behalf of Salva Ministries, filed a petition with the State House’s legal department against Ongia.

According to the petition, Ongia sold a 3.2490-hectare parcel of land in Alwala village, Bangladesh parish Kyoga County, Amolatar district.

After selling it, he failed to provide the duly signed transfer forms and duplicate certificate of title required by the buyers to complete their registration.

It is also claimed that after the seller’s (Ongia’s) mother expressed an interest, local police intervened and stopped further construction of school facilities on the land.

It is important to note that Salva Ministries purchased the land in question from Colonel Ongia with the intention of constructing orphanage schools.

However, due to ongoing land disputes, police have prohibited all project-related activities since 2024.

To find a solution, both parties were advised to bring all necessary documents to the scheduled meeting.

Past meeting

Last year, Ongia reacted to the first news of the land dispute at a local meeting by attributing it to a political witch, citing his interest in the Kyoga County MP seat in 2026.

At the same meeting, under pressure from the local community who believed the land he sold would benefit them, Ongia requested three days to consult his lawyers.

His request was on a trespass case he filed against the buyer, Salva Ministries and its staff.

In May 2024, Ongia admitted to selling the land for shs40 million during a village meeting.

Bishop Tom Ibrahim Okello spoke that day on behalf of Salva Ministries, telling Ongia that “they would like the land title transferred as soon as possible so that construction can resume.”