Nabakooba explains Lands ministry zonal staff transfers
Nabakooba explained that the transfers were part of an administrative review intended to improve supervision, promote professional development and strengthen public confidence in the management of land transactions.
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba said the ministry had reviewed deployments at both headquarters and the zonal offices to determine where staff movements were necessary.
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Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba has attributed the temporary disruptions of services at the ministry zonal offices to transfers and revalidation of staff.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, October 22, the minister said that the transfer of staff exercise at the 22 zonal offices was necessary to strengthen accountability, curb potential undue influence in land administration and ensure that public officers serve in accordance with established government procedures.
Delivering a ministerial statement, she informed Parliament that some officers had remained at particular stations beyond the normal transfer cycle, exposing them to the risk of becoming susceptible to influence from land dealers, brokers and agents with whom they had developed prolonged associations.
She explained that the transfers were part of an administrative review intended to improve supervision, promote professional development and strengthen public confidence in the management of land transactions.
“The transfers were prompted partly by concerns that some officers had stayed at the same duty stations for extended periods, creating circumstances that could weaken professional independence and institutional accountability. Under the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, 2021, common cadre officers are generally transferred after serving at a particular station for approximately three to five years, although the period may vary according to the interests of the service and other circumstances,” she said.
The minister’s explanation followed concerns raised by Bbaale County MP Charles Tebandeke during the sixth sitting of the second meeting of the first session of the 12th Parliament on October 13, 2026, over disruptions at the zonal offices following the movement of staff and the revalidation of user access rights on the National Land Information System (NLIS).
Tibandeke complained that the changes temporarily delayed the processing of some land transactions, prompting questions about the criteria used to transfer officers, the readiness of receiving offices and the potential financial implications for government.
Nabakooba acknowledged the delays but maintained that the measures were intended to improve the administration of land services rather than punish particular officers or restrict public access to the ministry.
The minister said the ministry had reviewed deployments at both headquarters and the zonal offices to determine where staff movements were necessary.
She argued that rotation helps expose officers to different working environments, broadens their professional experience and reduces the risks associated with prolonged relationships between officials and individuals who regularly seek land services.
Nabakooba told Parliament that some officers who had remained at their stations for long periods could become “susceptible to undue influence from the land dealers, brokers, but also agents”.
She nevertheless cautioned that the concerns should not be interpreted as a general accusation against all ministry employees.
The minister said many officers continued to perform their duties diligently and professionally, stressing that transfers were not evidence of wrongdoing by the individuals affected.
She described the exercise as a routine administrative measure designed to improve institutional performance, insisting that the movement of officers was “neither a disciplinary measure nor a reward”.
She informed the House, chaired by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, that the transfers were not arbitrary decisions made by individual officials without administrative review.
“The respective departments submitted proposals for staff movements, which were then reviewed by the committee before implementation. The main consideration was the length of time an officer had served at a particular station. Other factors included public feedback on service delivery and, in a limited number of cases, the health and welfare circumstances of individual officers,” she said.
The ministry said the process was guided by the applicable public service regulations and the need to maintain effective operations across the country.
However, Tebandeke questioned whether the criteria were sufficiently clear and consistently applied.
The Bbaale County legislator argued that the ministry needed to explain more explicitly how individual officers were selected for transfer, saying the process had caused disorganisation at some offices.
He also claimed that some officers had resisted new postings because certain zonal offices were already overstaffed.
Tebandeke cited Mukono and Wakiso as examples where staffing levels required scrutiny, questioning why some offices could reportedly have excess personnel while other locations needed effective deployment.
He called for a closer examination of staffing levels and the identification of officers who might not be fully occupied by their assigned duties.
Nabakooba said in future, the ministry plans to phase transfers where possible, rather than moving large numbers of staff in ways that could leave offices temporarily unable to process transactions.
The minister also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparent, accountable and efficient land administration.