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Arua High Court Hears Justice Rosette Kania's Land Ownership Case

21 Jan 2025 13:10
Justice Rosette Kania in grey suit joined by her Lawyer and brother Erinato kania and her Father and other Learned Friends at Arua Court today Tuesday after the case was adjourned to April 22.

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The High Court in Arua has begun hearing a case involving Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, a Kampala-based High Court Judge, who claims she was denied full ownership of land she purchased in Biacici village, Yachi Parish, Ogoko Sub-County, Madi Okollo District, in 2018.

The dispute stems from residents' protests over how Augustine Asea, a businessman in Arua, acquired a title for the 167.5098 hectares (approximately 413 acres) of community land. Asea later sold the land to Justice Kania in a transaction finalized in Arua, where he handed over the title to her.

However, upon visiting Biacici village to inspect her land, Justice Kania was denied access by residents who claimed they were unaware of the transaction. 

They also alleged that the land in question included community roads, portions of River Ala, and other water sources. Local landlords accused Asea of initially purchasing only 57 acres but secretly processing a title for over 400 acres, which he later used to sell to Justice Kania. 

After paying over UGX 100 million and transferring the title into her name, Justice Kania realized she had been deceived.  She subsequently filed a case of theft by trick and fraud against Asea. Asea, however, has since gone into hiding, ignoring multiple court summons. During the hearing on Monday, presided over by Justice Harriet Grace Magala, Renato Kania, the lawyer representing Justice Kania, stated they were constrained by time as Asea remains unreachable.

Samuel Ondoma, a lawyer from Alaka and Company Advocates representing Wilfred Eneku, Grism Ambayo, John Adeti, and others whose land was allegedly included in Asea’s fraudulent title, noted that Justice Kania could have avoided being duped if she had inspected the land before payment. Ondoma also criticized Asea’s continued evasion of court summons, calling his actions suspicious.

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Justice Magala adjourned the matter to April 22, 2025, to allow the lawyers involved to file trial bundles and a joint scheduling memorandum (JSM). This marks the fourth adjournment of the case, filed under Civil Suit Number 19 of 2023 by Justice Rosette Kania.