Fresh controversy has erupted in Gulu City following explosive claims that National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, Richard Todwong, is among individuals accused of attempting to covertly take over Kaunda Grounds, one of northern Uganda’s most iconic public spaces.
Kaunda Grounds, named after Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda, holds deep historical and cultural significance. It is notably remembered as the venue where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1993 during his visit to Uganda. The park is also regarded as Gulu City’s only major public green space.
According to emerging reports, Todwong is accused of being part of a scheme seeking to convert Kaunda Grounds from customary tenure to freehold, allegedly using forged land titles. The alleged move is said to be linked to a broader pattern of land grabbing claims involving powerful political actors, with some critics tying the matter to networks connected to President Yoweri Museveni’s administration.
Leaked correspondence from the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) dated between 2024 and 2025 reportedly reveals that multiple applications were submitted to title the land including one bearing Todwong’s name.
The controversy came to light after Gulu City Council lodged a protective claim over the land, prompting the ULC to suspend all transactions concerning Kaunda Grounds pending a review of jurisdiction and ownership.
The allegations mirror a December 2025 Daily Monitor publication investigation, which detailed land disputes in Gulu involving Todwong and five other individuals. The renewed claims have intensified scrutiny and reignited public anger.
Civil society actors, local leaders, and residents have raised alarm, warning that the alleged land grab threatens to permanently deprive Gulu of its last major recreational and cultural space. Calls are growing for independent media investigations and full disclosure from authorities.
As of 10 February, Richard Todwong has not issued any official statement addressing the allegations.
This is a developing story. We will continue to follow updates as they unfold.
