Two officials attached to the Jinja Ministerial Zonal Office are in custody following an anti-corruption operation led by Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluze, targeting alleged extortion in the processing of land titles.
The suspects, identified as surveyor Francis Wangoli and graduate trainee Jovan Woniala, were picked up after multiple complaints from applicants accused staff at the office of soliciting unofficial payments in exchange for faster service.
According to the complainants, those who declined to pay often faced prolonged delays in securing their land documents.
The arrests followed an impromptu inspection carried out at the office on Wednesday evening by the IGG’s enforcement team.
During the visit, several members of the public alleged that a network of intermediaries operates within the institution, collecting money on behalf of insiders to influence the processing of files.
Sources familiar with the operation said suspicion intensified after claims emerged that cash collected from applicants was being kept in a bag allegedly controlled by the surveyor.
Payments were reportedly demanded from as little as 10,000 shillings and shared among individuals within the office.
Officials say the situation escalated when members of the survey department reportedly fled upon noticing the IGG team.
A search of the premises was subsequently conducted by the Director of Ombudsman, Savio Kakooza, alongside remaining staff, leading to the recovery of a bag believed to have been used in the alleged scheme.
Woniala was later summoned to the office and questioned about the contents of the bag.
Although he denied knowledge of the money, investigators reportedly recovered an identity card belonging to Wangoli along with cash from inside.
Wangoli later returned and admitted ownership of the bag, explaining that he had instructed Woniala to collect it from his vehicle.
He initially stated that the bag contained about 700,000 shillings, but a count conducted by officials reportedly revealed a higher amount, exceeding one million shillings.
The discrepancies in their accounts prompted investigators to detain both individuals as inquiries continue into suspected corruption within the land administration system.
They were transferred to the regional IGG offices in Jinja, where they are currently being held pending further interrogation.
Speaking after the operation, Kakooza warned of what he described as organised malpractice in land offices, where unauthorized individuals gain access to applicants’ details and use the information to solicit bribes.
He noted that such conduct not only erodes public trust but also denies citizens timely access to essential government services.
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