IGG orders arrest of Jinja land officials over alleged bribery scheme

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The Inspectorate of Government has arrested two officials attached to the Jinja Ministry Zonal Office over allegations of extortion, bribery and gross maladministration.

The suspects, identified as Donald Francis Wangoli, a staff surveyor, and Jovan Woniala, a graduate trainee, were apprehended on April 15, 2026, during a surprise spot check conducted by the ombudsman’s team at the ministry zonal office under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, located at Plot 68 to 72 Nile Crescent in Jinja city.

The operation followed a surge in public outcry regarding officials at the Jinja office who allegedly demand illegal payments to fast-track land titles and carry out unauthorised land subdivisions, as well as the presence of middlemen operating within the office who collect bribes on behalf of government officials.

The green bag mystery

The director of ombudsman affairs, Kakooza Savio Ntensibe, who led the operation, revealed that the team acted on a precise tip-off concerning a "green bag" used as a collection point for bribes.  He was accompanied by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) Aisha Naluzze Batala.

The Director of Ombudsman Affairs, Kakooza Savior Ntensibe showing Wangoli's small green bag that contained money extorted from people to fast-track land services at the Ministry Zonal Office in Jinja City. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

"We knew exactly where the bag was kept. When we arrived, everyone denied ownership—it was only after the intervention of the IGG team that we were told it belonged to a graduate trainee," Ntensibe said.

Upon being ordered to open the backpack, Woniala initially claimed it only contained his books and denied possessing any money or knowledge of a smaller bag found inside his backpack.

However, a search revealed a large sum of scattered cash and an identity card belonging to Wangoli.

In a state of confusion, Woniala claimed the money belonged to his supervisor, Wangoli, alleging he did not know how the cash ended up in his backpack.

Ntensibe later picked Wangoli from his office and, when brought before IGG Naluzze, he claimed ownership of the small green bag.

Wangoli provided a conflicting account, claiming he had instructed the trainee to pick up the bag from his car and deliver it to his office. He further claimed that his bag contained between sh600,000 and sh700,000, but when instructed to count the money, the total amount was approximately sh1.08 million.

Due to contradictions in their statements, the duo was arrested and taken to the Jinja Regional IGG Office for further investigations.

Shocking discoveries

Investigators from the Inspectorate of Government also scrutinised the mobile money records of Wangoli, discovering that he had received over sh2 million on his phone within a single week, raising further red flags about his dealings at the ministry zonal office.

The spot check also exposed a "ghost" workforce and administrative rot. Several offices were found empty as officials reportedly fled through the back door upon seeing the IGG vehicles.

"We found some office bearers were absent. One is a veteran who retired years ago but is still sitting in the office working. Another had his contract terminated but remains at his desk," Ntensibe noted.

Nationwide strategy

The ombudsman team, led by Naluzze, stated that the rot in land offices is a countrywide issue.

Donald Francis Wangoli (2nd right), a staff surveyor, and Jovan Woniala (left), a graduate trainee at the Ministry Zonal Office being led by Policemen to a vehicle to be taken to the Jinja regional IGG office for further investigation after their arrest on April 15th. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

Plans are underway to engage top leadership at the Ministry of Lands to streamline operations and weed out retired or unauthorised personnel still handling sensitive land matters.

Earlier in the day, the IGG team held courtesy meetings with Jinja district and city leaders to discuss service delivery and transparency.

The two suspects remain in custody to assist with ongoing investigations.