The Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure has intensified its scrutiny of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development’s Jinja Zonal Office over a backlog of approximately 120,000 land-related files, with some applicants reportedly unable to trace their documents for years.
The inquiry is being led by the Parliamentary Committee on Lands, chaired by Hon. Edison Rugumayo, with deputy chairperson Hon. Peace Tibyaze. The legislators are investigating a growing number of public complaints concerning delays in processing land transactions, missing files, questionable land titles and alleged shortcomings in service delivery at the Jinja office.
During an engagement with officials from the zonal office, the committee tasked the Registrar, Jamail Lukungu, to explain how the enormous backlog had accumulated and why some members of the public had failed to trace files submitted to the office despite repeated follow-ups.
MPs expressed concern that prolonged delays were denying landowners timely access to essential services, including the processing of land titles, transfers and other transactions.
According to the committee, some applicants have waited for years without receiving clear feedback on the status of their documents, raising concerns about the office’s record management and accountability systems.
The legislators also turned their attention to allegations surrounding the processing and issuance of land titles in areas where titles should allegedly not have been granted.
Jinja District Surveyor Daniel Francis Wagoli was asked to respond to concerns about the issuance of titles and the methods used to verify land before transactions are approved.
Wagoli told the committee that some of the imagery used in land verification and survey work was outdated and did not always provide an accurate reflection of the current situation on the ground.
He said access to more recent imagery was necessary to improve the accuracy of land administration and enable officials to make better-informed decisions before approving titles.
The explanation, however, raised further concerns among legislators about whether changes in land use, boundaries, wetlands and other protected areas are adequately captured during the land title verification process.
Committee chairperson Rugumayo said Parliament had received several complaints from members of the public regarding service delivery at the Jinja Zonal Office.
Among the concerns were allegations that some officials were not consistently available to serve clients on Mondays and Thursdays, contributing to delays and frustration among applicants.
Rugumayo said the allegations were particularly concerning because the Jinja office serves several districts and handles a significant volume of land transactions.
The committee has now directed the officials to provide detailed explanations regarding the complaints and account for the circumstances that led to the accumulation of such a large number of pending files.
The inquiry comes against the backdrop of persistent public concerns over land administration in the Busoga sub-region, where disputes involving boundaries, land ownership, titles and delayed documentation continue to generate complaints.
Parliament is expected to examine whether gaps in staffing, record management, technology, supervision and other administrative systems are contributing to the growing backlog and the reported disappearance or misplacement of files.
What You Need To Know
The latest parliamentary scrutiny comes months after District Surveyor Daniel Francis Wagoli was arrested by the Inspectorate of Government in April.
Information available indicates that more than Shs1.08 million was allegedly recovered from his office seat without proper accountability, prompting his arrest as investigations into the matter were initiated.
The committee’s ongoing inquiry is expected to establish whether there has been accountability in the handling of land files, the processing and issuance of titles, and the overall conduct and performance of officials at the Ministry of Lands’ Jinja Zonal Office.
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