Kampala, Uganda – The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is once again under intense public scrutiny following serious allegations leveled against Permanent Secretary Docus Okalanyi, with insiders describing rising tension, staff dissatisfaction, and claims of systemic irregularities within key departments.
Ms. Okalanyi, who previously served at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs before joining Lands in 2016, is now at the centre of claims by anonymous staff sources who accuse sections of the ministry leadership of corruption, nepotism, and irregular administrative practices.
According to multiple insider accounts, deployment and transfer processes within Ministry Zonal Offices (MZOs) are allegedly being manipulated, with claims that staff are required to pay substantial amounts of money to secure preferred work stations.
Highly sought-after postings in areas such as Wakiso, Mukono, and Kampala are reportedly the most contested, with allegations that officers in professional cadres including registrars, surveyors, planners, and land officers are pressured to pay between UGX 30 million and 50 million to secure favorable placements.
Lower-level staff, including typists, office attendants, and cartographers, are also allegedly affected, with claims of payments ranging between UGX 10 million and 15 million. Graduate trainees are further said to be caught in the same system of informal demands.
The allegations further suggest that some staffing decisions may be influenced by close personal networks, with claims of preferential treatment in certain zonal offices, particularly Wakiso and Mukono.
There are also claims that the Human Resource department operates under significant external influence in staffing matters, although these remain unverified.
Former ministry officials are also cited in insider accounts, with some alleging that officers who fall out of favour face transfers or removal from sensitive positions. One former senior official, identified by sources only as Juuko, is said to have exited after reported disagreements within leadership.
Workers further allege that a monthly facilitation allowance of about UGX 200,000 was discontinued after the current administrative changes, leaving some employees expressing financial strain. However, no official explanation has been independently confirmed.
Staff deployed in remote districts such as Moroto, Gulu, Lira, Kabale, and Masindi also claim they face difficult working conditions, including limited transport and housing support. Some employees allege they feel pressured to continue working under difficult circumstances due to fear of reprisals.
Additional concerns raised by insiders include claims of growing irregularities in land administration systems, including alleged involvement of some staff in facilitating fraudulent land transactions and misuse of registry information. These allegations have not been independently verified.
There are also claims that some district officials may be concurrently operating within Ministry Zonal Offices while still receiving local government salaries, raising concerns about accountability and oversight.
Reports further allege that the ministry is experiencing internal instability, with claims of frequent absences by senior officials and weakening morale among staff. However, no official attendance records have been publicly released to substantiate these claims.
One particularly unusual allegation involves claims that an office attendant has been simultaneously working across multiple zonal offices through alleged informal arrangements, a situation insiders say highlights gaps in administrative controls.
As these allegations circulate, staff within the ministry reportedly express concern over what they describe as declining morale and growing mistrust within the institution, calling for urgent administrative review and reforms.
