Vendors from St. Balikuddembe Market alias Owino should not return the duplicate certificate of title to the Registrar of title for cancellation, the High Division Civil division has ordered.
The interim orders were issued by Justice Musa Ssekaana on Monday following a successful application by the vendors under the St. Balikuddembe Market Stalls, Space and Lock-up Shops Owners Association-SLOA.
The vendors sought intervention from the High court after President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni instructed the Ministry of Lands to give a land title to the Kampala District Land Board.
On July 15th, 2022, the Registrar of Titles made a re-entry on the Owino Market land returning it back to Kampala District Land Board.
On July 18th, the registrar wrote to St. Balikuddembe Market Stalls, Space and Lock-up Shops Owners Association informing them of the re-entry and instructed them to hand over the duplicate certificate of title to the district land board.
However, the vendors rejected the directive and petitioned the high court through their lawyers of Majdah Atulinda and Smith Kayanja, arguing that they had rightfully secured a lease on the market land and were hence the rightful owners. They asked the high court for interim orders stopping the registrar from canceling their title pending the conclusion of their application.
In his ruling, Justice Ssekaana directed the vendors not to surrender the titles until the main application challenging the registrar's order is heard. He certified the application for the interim orders as urgent, saying that it shall be heard during the court vacation.