KAMPALA โ Uganda's Minister of Health has called on the management of the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) and Phaneroo International Ministries to resolve their dispute over a contested piece of land in the Naguru neighbourhood of Kampala through dialogue, rather than litigation or public confrontation.
The land dispute has sparked widespread public debate in Uganda, raising questions about the balance between expanding critical public health infrastructure and the rights of religious organisations to acquire property. The Uganda Heart Institute, a government-affiliated cardiac care facility, and Phaneroo International Ministries, a prominent Ugandan Christian organisation led by Apostle Grace Lubega, both claim rights to the same parcel of land in the upscale Naguru area.
The Health Ministry's intervention reflects growing concern that the standoff could delay planned expansions at the Uganda Heart Institute, which serves as the country's primary centre for cardiac care and handles thousands of patients annually. Officials have emphasised that resolving the dispute amicably is in the public interest, given the institute's critical role in Uganda's healthcare system.
Phaneroo International Ministries has grown significantly in recent years and has been seeking land for the development of its facilities. The organisation commands a large following in Uganda and across East Africa. Both parties have yet to publicly confirm whether they will accept the government's call for mediated dialogue, and the matter may ultimately be referred to the courts if no agreement is reached.
