Phaneroo, Uganda Heart Institute Clash Again Over Prime Naguru Land
A renewed land dispute has emerged between Phaneroo Ministries International and the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI), reigniting tensions over a prime property in Naguru, one of Kampala’s most upscale areas.
The conflict, which dates back to a 2020 directive by Yoweri Museveni, has resurfaced following a parliamentary engagement where government officials called for dialogue between the two institutions.
During a session of the House Committee on Health chaired by Joseph Ruyonga, discussions around the Ministry of Health’s 2026/27 policy statement brought the contested land back into focus.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng urged both sides to prioritize negotiation, emphasizing the national importance of the Heart Institute.
“That issue has been brought to my attention. The best is for the two sides to sit down and negotiate because as a country, we need the Uganda Heart Institute,” she said, highlighting the institute’s critical role in healthcare delivery.
At the center of the dispute is a portion of land UHI claims is necessary for expansion, including infrastructure to support patient care. Aceng noted that beyond ownership, concerns such as noise pollution from nearby worship activities have also affected the hospital environment, which requires quiet conditions for heart patients.
The matter escalated after Christine Ndiwalana accused Phaneroo of encroaching on UHI land.
However, UHI Executive Director John Omagino clarified that the institute had initially been directed to give up 0.89 acres for an access route linked to a generator project, but later identified additional land that could support expansion—triggering fresh contestation.
The disputed property forms part of the former Naguru-Nakawa estate, an area that has long been subject to subdivision and allocation to multiple entities, including private developers.
Phaneroo has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that it has no active dispute with its neighbors. In a response from its communications team, the ministry stressed its commitment to coexistence and pointed to existing frameworks guiding land use in the area.
The situation now places pressure on government, particularly the Ministry of Lands, to clarify ownership and implement a lasting solution.
With both institutions playing vital roles—one in healthcare and the other in community and spiritual outreach—the outcome of the dispute is expected to have significant implications, especially for students and residents in the Naguru and Makerere areas who closely follow national development issues.
As calls for dialogue intensify, stakeholders are watching to see whether negotiation can resolve the standoff without disrupting essential medical services or community harmony.