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Citation
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Judgment date
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| October 2025 |
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Court ordered lapse of dormant beneficiary caveats on estate land, finding administrators had standing and caveators had not prosecuted interest.
* Registration of Titles Act – Sections 123 & 124 – beneficiary caveat – require protectable legal or equitable interest and may be removed by court where dormant or unprosecuted.
* Administrators’ standing – Letters of Administration confer sufficient interest to seek lapse of caveats affecting estate land.
* Caveat doctrine – caveat is protective and temporary; inactivity/sleeping on rights and failure to prosecute justify removal.
* Registrar’s powers – beneficiary caveats cannot be administratively lapsed; court order required.
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24 October 2025 |
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Court stayed execution of a land judgment pending appeal and declined to order security for due performance.
* Civil procedure – Stay of execution – Requirements: notice of appeal, likelihood of success, risk of substantial loss, absence of undue delay, security for due performance.
* Land law – Self-executing orders and extraction of decree as imminent threat of execution – risk of eviction.
* Discretion to order security for due performance – not mandatory, assessed case-by-case; declined where it would impede right of appeal in land disputes.
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20 October 2025 |
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Court invoked inherent jurisdiction to enforce a beneficiary's succession register entitlement, ordering title creation and transfer subject to survey.
* Succession registers (Buganda) – enforceability of historical succession records and beneficiaries' entitlements.
* Inherent jurisdiction – High Court’s power to fill regulatory lacunae and give effect to vested rights where no statutory remedy exists.
* Land registration – creation of a white page (certificate of title), location survey and protection against third-party interests before mutation/transfer.
* Administrator General – limits of jurisdiction following deletion of S.I. No. 150 of 1967 and obligation to cooperate in facilitating transfers.
* Costs – discretionary refusal to award costs against public bodies acting in good faith.
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13 October 2025 |
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Court authorized mother as guardian to sell minor's property for education, emphasizing parens patriae and best-interests principle.
Guardianship (proprietary rights) – minor's incapacity to contract – parens patriae – best interests of the child – factors for appointment: age, relationship, nature of property, purpose, minor's wishes – court authorization required for sale of minor's property.
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13 October 2025 |
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Court corrected a clerical error under s.99, confirming the appellant is entitled to one-quarter of the disputed plot and ordering vacatur of excess occupation.
* Civil Procedure Act s.99 – Correction of clerical or accidental slips in judgments, decrees or orders; effect on extracted decrees.
* Property/land law – entitlement to specified fraction of landed property (one-quarter) and consequences of excess occupation.
* Procedure – ordering survey to ascertain proprietary portions and apportionment of survey costs; costs awarded to successful party.
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13 October 2025 |
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Court granted leave to amend defence to add counterclaim and annexures to avoid multiplicity of suits, with timelines.
Civil procedure – Amendment of pleadings – Order 6 Rule 19 – Leave to amend written statement of defence – Inclusion of counterclaim – Avoidance of multiplicity of suits – Timelines for filing and response – Costs each party bears own costs.
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10 October 2025 |
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Application to stay self-executing High Court orders dismissed; no imminent harm shown and costs awarded personally against the registrar.
* Civil procedure – Stay of execution – prerequisites for stay: prima facie appealability/likelihood of success, irreparable harm or risk of nugatory appeal, balance of convenience, and promptitude. * Self-executing orders – effect and amenability to stay; such orders take immediate effect but can be set aside on appeal. * Contempt and non-compliance – refusal to register documents contrary to court orders may amount to contempt and abuse of process. * Costs – personal liability of public officer for costs where conduct warrants lifting the veil on public office.
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10 October 2025 |
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Court found plaintiff’s equitable title and possession, voided later sale, cancelled titles, granted injunction, eviction and damages.
Property law – equitable interest and constructive possession; trespass to land; indefeasibility of title vs. fraud/bad faith; bona fide purchaser and duty of inquiry; cancellation of certificates of title; exemplary damages against vendor for reselling land.
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7 October 2025 |
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Late-stage amendment introducing a new cause of action and reopening a nearly completed trial was refused for prejudice and lack of grounds.
* Civil procedure – amendment of pleadings – Order 6 r.19 – amendments to determine real questions in controversy; amendments introducing a new cause of action at an advanced stage are disallowed.
* Civil procedure – reopening closed case – grounds for reopening (fresh evidence not reasonably discoverable, inadvertent error, mistaken apprehension of facts or law) – failure to satisfy grounds warrants refusal.
* Finality and prejudice – late-stage amendments/reopening causing de novo restart and unfair prejudice justify denial and costs to respondents.
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6 October 2025 |
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Applicant proved respondents willfully breached an injunction; court found contempt, fined, authorized demolition, and awarded costs.
* Civil procedure – Contempt of court – breach of injunction – elements: existence of order, knowledge, willful disobedience; photographic evidence without provenance has limited evidential value; locus in quo may be decisive. * Remedies for contempt – declaratory finding, monetary fine, conditional demolition of unlawful structures, enforcement by local authorities, committal for disobedience, costs.
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6 October 2025 |
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Court reinstated applicant’s consequential land-registration order and set aside respondents’ ex parte review order for abuse of process.
Land law – consequential orders for cancellation/reinstatement of registration; civil procedure – review of court orders; service of process; ex parte orders; abuse of court process; costs.
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2 October 2025 |
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Plaintiff held bona fide purchaser; 1st defendant’s title procured fraudulently, cancelled and plaintiff’s title reinstated.
* Land law – double titling – competing certificates of title – priority of title and root of title;* Registration of Titles Act – indefeasibility of title and exception for fraud;* Bona fide purchaser for value without notice – requirements and burden of proof;* Due diligence, undervaluation/stamp duty irregularities and fraud;* Remedies – cancellation of title, reinstatement/registration, eviction, injunctions and costs.
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2 October 2025 |
| September 2025 |
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Plaint struck out: society, not individual members, is proper plaintiff and mandatory dispute-resolution/arbitration was not followed.
Cooperative societies – corporate personality and locus standi – disputes touching society business – mandatory arbitration under s.142(1) and bylaws – plaint failing to disclose cause of action – members’ capacity to sue (exceptions to proper plaintiff rule) – premature suit and abuse of court process.
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29 September 2025 |
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Joint grant revoked where co-executors died and executor failed to file inventory; plaintiff appointed administrator.
Succession Act s.230 (revocation of grant) – grant rendered inoperative by death of co-executors; Succession Act s.273 (duty to exhibit inventory) – failure to file inventory is ground for revocation; court’s power to make fresh grant; refusal to adjudicate title cancellations where overlapping pending suit would pre-empt other parties' rights.
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29 September 2025 |
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Registered title and possession upheld; defendant held a trespasser, evicted, injuncted and ordered to pay damages and costs.
Land law – ownership and possession – production of original certificate of title and corroborating evidence establish registered proprietor; Trespass – unlawful entry, moving boundary marks and planting trees; Equitable interest – absence of evidence by occupant; Remedies – declaration of title, eviction, permanent injunction, general damages where special damages not proved.
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25 September 2025 |
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The applicant failed to meet CFM requirements, was found to have committed fraud, and is not entitled to a licence or relief.
* Forestry law – Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) – statutory and guideline compliance required for CFM agreements and licences.
* Administrative decision – denial of licence – procedural non-compliance and disqualification.
* Fraud – failure to register as community based organisation; unlawful allocation of forest reserve land.
* Remedies – specific performance and damages denied where claimant fails to prove entitlement on the balance of probabilities.
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25 September 2025 |
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Court held the registered title was fraudulently procured; suit land belongs to the earlier owner’s estate; fraudulent entries cancelled.
• Civil procedure – consolidation and amendment of pleadings – competence of amended plaint to pursue ownership claims following consolidation.
• Succession and land registration – validity of succession certificates, requirement for will/transfer forms and records supporting entry on land register.
• Fraud on title – when registration obtained by fraud can be set aside and names removed from the land register.
• Letters of Administration – surrender and effect; inability to revoke surrendered, inoperative grants absent proven fraud.
• Limitation – claim of descendant to recover ancestral land not barred where awareness of fraud determined accrual.
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25 September 2025 |
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25 September 2025 |
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The applicant’s title was set aside as fraudulently obtained and the land reverted to the deceased’s estate.
Land law – transfer and title – material inconsistencies in sale instruments; fraudulently obtained certificate of title; administrators’ consent and joint administration; declaration and cancellation of title; trespass and beneficiaries’ rights.
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25 September 2025 |
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Taxation appeals governed by S.62 Advocates Act; dismissal for alleged lateness set aside and appeal reinstated.
* Taxation of costs – Appeals from taxing officers – S.62 Advocates Act and Regulation No.3 Advocates (Taxation of Costs) (Appeals & Reference) Regulations govern taxation appeals.
* Procedural law – Lex specialis – specific taxation provisions override general Civil Procedure Act appeal provisions.
* Timeliness – appeal filed within applicable period for taxation matters; dismissal for lateness set aside.
* Orders – dismissal set aside; taxation appeal reinstated for hearing on merits.
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22 September 2025 |
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The respondent’s long uninterrupted possession established estate title; appeal dismissed for lack of evidence and invalid Will.
* Succession law – attestation requirements for Wills (Section 47(c) Succession Act) – non-compliant Will inadmissible as basis for title. * Land law – proof of possession – uninterrupted occupation can establish estate inclusion and defeat competing claims. * Customary/clan resolutions – redistribution minutes lacking description do not transfer or identify specific land rights. * Limitation law – section 5 protection where long, uninterrupted possession and no proof of licence. * Civil procedure – first appellate court’s duty to re-evaluate evidence and reach independent conclusions.
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12 September 2025 |
| August 2025 |
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Failure to file a record of appeal and non-appearance of counsel did not warrant dismissal of a High Court civil appeal.
Civil procedure – preliminary objection – failure to file record of appeal – want of prosecution – non-appearance of counsel – sufficient cause – discretion to dismiss appeal – right to be heard – Order 43 Civil Procedure Rules.
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29 August 2025 |
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Court declined to strike out suit for limitation or lack of cause of action where fraud allegations required evidence at trial.
Civil procedure – preliminary objections – limitation of actions based on fraud – cause of action – summary dismissal – whether disputed facts and fraud allegations can be determined summarily – approach to striking out plaints as frivolous or vexatious.
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28 August 2025 |
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Court grants conditional stay of execution pending appeal, emphasizing substance over procedural technicalities and the need for security.
Civil Procedure – stay of execution – effect of procedural irregularities – application not invalidated by citing incorrect law – time frame for stay applications – requirements for granting stay – security for due performance – exercise of judicial discretion.
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26 August 2025 |
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Court held that witness statements must reflect only the witness's personal knowledge, disallowing plural pronouns and legal conclusions.
Evidence – witness statements – requirements for direct oral evidence – use of first person singular – lay versus expert opinion – admissibility of legal conclusions in witness statements – preliminary objection to admissibility – Civil Procedure Rules and the Evidence Act applied.
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26 August 2025 |
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Trial court properly considered negligence arising from cattle trespass; appeal dismissed with costs.
Civil procedure – pleadings and causes of action; negligence vs cattle trespass; particulars of negligence; strict liability for animals; sufficiency and corroboration of oral evidence; appellate reappraisal of facts and law.
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25 August 2025 |
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Whether a vesting order can be granted where purchaser paid in full, is in possession, and the vendor is deceased/untraceable.
* Registration of Titles Act – vesting order – statutory conditions: registered land, full payment, possession, vendor's acquiescence, vendor deceased or untraceable – court’s inherent jurisdiction under Article 139(1) and Section 98 Civil Procedure Act.
* Procedural prerequisite – application to Commissioner/Registrar under Section 151 before invoking court jurisdiction.
* Evidence – proof of payment, possession and corroborative affidavits/visitation to locus to satisfy vesting order requirements.
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19 August 2025 |
| July 2025 |
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Court orders the removal of an unjustified caveat and awards general damages to the Applicant.
Land law – Caveat – lawful lodging of caveat on registered land – procedure for removing unjustified caveats.
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18 July 2025 |
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Preliminary objections to a suit on mailo land ownership by a non-citizen and locus standi were overruled and the case proceeds to trial.
Land law – preliminary objections – mailo land – non-citizen ownership – locus standi of estate beneficiaries – premature suit – abuse of process – High Court jurisdiction over fraud and trespass.
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17 July 2025 |
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Court confirms estate ownership of land, orders fraudulently gained title to be canceled.
Land law – Fraudulent registration – Estate administration – Trespass – Registration cancellation
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16 July 2025 |
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The respondents' second ruling was declared null and void due to illegal and irrational process breaches.
Judicial review - functus officio - illegality and irrationality in administrative decisions - interim court order
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15 July 2025 |
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Preliminary objections overruled; admissions unclear; plaint raises a cause of action warranting full trial.
Civil Procedure – Preliminary Objections – Judgment on Admission – Cause of Action
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14 July 2025 |
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4 July 2025 |
| June 2025 |
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Mental Illness – Estate Management – Constructive Marriage – Legal Recognition of Long-Term Cohabitation – Appointment of Personal Representative – Family Consent – Best Interests of Dependants – Accounting Obligations
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30 June 2025 |
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The court held that the respondents' claim against the applicant disclosed a cause of action, allowing the suit to proceed.
Civil Procedure - cause of action - determining the validity of claims in land disputes; Frivolous and Vexatious Claims - assessing the merits of legal actions.
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23 June 2025 |
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Appeal allows acquittal in a forcible detainer case, emphasizing civil jurisdiction for land disputes.
Criminal law – Forcible detainer – Defence of honest claim of right – Land ownership disputes are civil matters.
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23 June 2025 |
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Court found defendants in breach of sale agreement for failing to deliver vacant land and ordered compensation with interest.
Contract law – Sale of land – Breach of contract by failure to deliver vacant possession – Remedies for breach of contract – Novation and company liability in sales agreements.
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18 June 2025 |
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Application for contempt dismissed due to insufficient proof of respondents' control over third-party construction activities.
Civil procedure – contempt of court – existence and awareness of court order – control over land by respondents – burden of proof in contempt proceedings.
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18 June 2025 |
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Application to reinstate dismissed appeal denied due to applicant's inaction and lack of sufficient grounds.
Civil Procedure – application to set aside dismissal order – reinstatement of appeal – diligence in prosecution – litigation must end.
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18 June 2025 |
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The court confirmed the plaintiff as a bona fide occupant, ruled the eviction unlawful, and awarded damages for lost land use.
Land law - bona fide occupant - unlawful eviction - fraud in land sales - vesting order requirements - general damages.
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18 June 2025 |
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Court finds defendants in continuous trespass for unauthorized use of access road, awards damages and orders valuation.
Limitation Act – continuous trespass – easement – unauthorized use of access road – joint valuation for damages.
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18 June 2025 |
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17 June 2025 |
| May 2025 |
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22 May 2025 |
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The trial magistrate's decision lacked sufficient evidence of defendants' cattle trespassing on the respondent's crops.
Tort Law – Negligence – Evidence – Proof of Cattle Ownership – Burden of Proof
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21 May 2025 |
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5 May 2025 |
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5 May 2025 |
| March 2025 |
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Court orders compensation for breach of land sale contract due to third-party claims on the suit land.
Contract law - breach of land sale agreement - remedies for breach - validity of contract - specific performance vs. compensation
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27 March 2025 |
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Illegality of estate transactions without the co-administrator's consent leads to annulment and damages.
Estate administration - capacity to transact without co-administrator's consent - illegality of unilateral sales of estate property.
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26 March 2025 |
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Defendants lawfully own disputed land through a valid 1986 sale; plaintiff restrained from further interference.
Property Law – Land Ownership – Validity of Sale Agreement – Trespass – Limitation in Counterclaims
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24 March 2025 |
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Court affirms plaintiffs’ rightful ownership of disputed land, ordering defendants’ eviction and title cancellation where overlapping.
Land law – dispute over land ownership - determination of rightful ownership - issues of overlapping land claims - fraudulent title acquisition allegations
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13 March 2025 |