TORORO, Uganda — Questions have emerged following the Tororo District Council’s decision to allocate land to five government agencies in what several councillors and district leaders have described as a “flawed and opaque” process.
The resolution was passed on Wednesday, 6th May 2026, when the council approved a Shs97 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year during a stormy session reportedly marred by procedural irregularities, missing documents, and heated clashes among councillors.
During the same sitting, council also approved a series of land allocations to government entities, including the Resident District Commissioner’s office, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), the High Court, the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), and the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU).
However, councillors noted that only NIRA’s request had appeared on the official order paper, raising concerns about transparency and legality in the approval process.
Several council members described the process as “opaque” and “deeply flawed,” with some openly objecting to the agenda.
Some councillors who attended the meeting also alleged that several phone calls from influential “Kampala bosses” were received during a break that reportedly lasted more than 30 minutes, further fueling suspicion about external interference in both the budget approval and land allocation decisions.
“Who are these Kampala bosses, and what interest did they have in the passing of the budget?” one councillor questioned. “Was it about the land allocations?”
The controversial resolution came just a day after Tororo District LC5 Chairperson, Hon. John Okea, dismissed reports alleging that district leaders intended to grab land belonging to the Tororo District Agriculture Training Institute (DATIC).
Speaking during a press conference held at the district headquarters on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Okea described the claims as “false and baseless” and sought to calm public anxiety ahead of the council’s final sitting.
Despite his assurances, councillors warned that the approved land allocations lacked critical details such as the exact location and size of the land being allocated.
“This is a recipe for abuse,” one councillor said. “You cannot allocate land without knowing where it is or how big it is.”
Nagongera Town Council District Councillor Obbo Oketch, popularly known as “Jascience,” led the criticism against the district leadership.
He accused Speaker Betty Andera and LC5 Chairperson John Okea of having “vested interests” in the allocations.
“How do you pass a Shs97 billion budget without documents, without a seconder, and without a procurement plan?” Obbo questioned during the heated debate.
Despite the objections, Speaker Betty Andera declared the budget passed before adjourning the sitting.
In his defence, District Chairperson John Okea maintained that the land allocations were intended to improve service delivery in the district.
“These allocations will bring services closer to our people,” Okea said. “The RDC, IGG, High Court — all these institutions need space to serve Tororo better.”
