community 30 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
500 Households Protest Church Over Blocked Road in Seguku
Over 500 households in Katale-Seguku are in a standoff with the World Trumpet Mission Church after the religious institution began blocking a critical community road, leading to a protest and an ongoing court case. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/500-households-clash-with-church-over-blocked-road-in-seguku-5514020
Residents of Katale-Seguku in Wakiso District staged a peaceful demonstration on Saturday, June 27, 2026, protesting the World Trumpet Mission Church’s decision to close a road they have used for over two decades. The protestors, carrying placards with messages demanding their “right of way,” marched to the church’s gate, popularly known as the National Prayer Mountain.
The road, referred to as Blessed Road, is a vital link connecting communities from Kampala-Entebbe Road through Seguku Katale, Nalumunye, and Bandwe, eventually reaching the Kyengera-Masaka Road. Local leaders estimate that its closure directly impacts the daily lives and livelihoods of more than 500 households.
According to Emmanuel Makumbi, the LC1 Chairperson of Katale Bugema Cell Sseguku, the community resorted to protesting after a three-month deadlock with the church and Wakiso District authorities. “We have been using this road for 24 years. The place is properly developed with people of fairly good standing, yet they claim security,” Makumbi stated, urging government intervention.
Tensions escalated earlier this year when the church began constructing a perimeter wall across the road. A subsequent stakeholder meeting failed to resolve the dispute, and the matter has since moved to the Entebbe High Court. Residents filed a complaint in April 2026, with the next hearing scheduled for July 3.
However, protestors were dismayed to find the church allegedly dumping soil to obstruct the road, which they believe undermines the judicial process. “We shall not rest until our road remains open,” vowed resident Gerald Walulya.
The church, through its Senior Administrator, Dr. Rev. Patrick Ssemambo, cited security concerns, including theft, land encroachment, and fears of criminal elements, as reasons for fencing the 57-acre property. “Some years back, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) arrested some people from this place, linking them to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels; we don’t want these catastrophes to continue happening,” Dr. Ssemambo explained.
While the church has proposed an alternative route, residents find it too narrow and hazardous. The situation remains tense as the community awaits the High Court’s decision. The Uganda Roads Act, 2019, states that blocking an access road without authorization is an offense punishable by fines or imprisonment.