News
Wakiso lands officials seek performance bonuses
There are 22 MZOs across the country, established with the objective of bringing lands services closer to citizens.
Edson Rugumayo (Ntoroko County, NRM), Lands and Housing Committee chair. (File)
By: Dedan Kimathi, Journalist @New Vision
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Wakiso district lands officials have asked Parliament to consider introducing performance bonuses for staff who exceed their targets as an incentive for improved revenue collection.
Principal assistant secretary (PAS) Geoffrey Aduma made the appeal on August 24, 2026, during an oversight visit by the Lands and Housing Committee to the Busiro Ministerial Zonal Office (MZO).
The committee is chaired by Edson Rugumayo (Ntoroko County, NRM).
There are 22 MZOs across the country, established with the objective of bringing lands services closer to citizens.
Aduma told the committee that the Busiro MZO generates significant revenue and argued that staff should be rewarded for exceeding their targets.
“This is an appeal to the committee that is in charge of our Ministry. Busiro, as an MZO (Ministerial Zonal Office), we are an income-generating office. The figures are on the system. For example, in 2024/25, we generated close to sh9 billion. We request that an incentive be given to the staff,” Aduma suggested.
“We’ve seen in Parliament; you people have awarded people of URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) for hitting the target. I don’t know whether it was the other time. Because they had hit the target so they were rewarded; how I wish, you say, principal assistant secretary, we are giving you a target of sh10 billion, and I listen. If you hit sh10b, ten percent will be for your staff,” he added.
Late last year, Parliament approved sh23.89 billion as a performance reward for Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff after the tax body surpassed its revenue collection target for the 2024/25 financial year.
URA collected sh31.63 trillion against a target of sh31.37 trillion.
Responding to Aduma's proposal, Rugumayo cheekily asked, “Can we agree that if we put some figures, values will increase?”
“This is an appeal to the committee that is in charge of our Ministry. Busiro, as an MZO (Ministerial Zonal Office), we are an income-generating office. The figures are on the system. For example, in 2024/25, we generated close to sh9 billion. We request that an incentive be given to the staff,” Aduma suggested.
“We’ve seen in Parliament; you people have awarded people of URA (Uganda Revenue Authority) for hitting the target. I don’t know whether it was the other time. Because they had hit the target so they were rewarded; how I wish, you say, principal assistant secretary, we are giving you a target of sh10 billion, and I listen. If you hit sh10b, ten percent will be for your staff,” he added.
Late last year, Parliament approved sh23.89 billion as a performance reward for Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) staff after the tax body surpassed its revenue collection target for the 2024/25 financial year.
URA collected sh31.63 trillion against a target of sh31.37 trillion.
Responding to Aduma's proposal, Rugumayo cheekily asked, “Can we agree that if we put some figures, values will increase?”
Staffing gaps
The appeal came amid concerns over the growing number of lands officials serving on one-year contracts rather than permanent terms of employment, which MPs said exposed them to job insecurity.
The committee was told that eight critical staff members are currently serving on annual contracts, including six data-entry officers and a surveyor, among others.
Some of the employees have reportedly served on successive contracts for up to nine years.
Aduma, however, said there was hope that the situation would be addressed following discussions between the Ministry of Lands and the responsible authorities.
“Last week, we had a meeting with all the ministers of lands, and we got information that the Ministry of Lands was given some substantial wage. And the ministers are lobbying that all these ones who are on contract can be regularised. Such that we don’t take back all that money to the coffers,” he hinted.
The appeal came amid concerns over the growing number of lands officials serving on one-year contracts rather than permanent terms of employment, which MPs said exposed them to job insecurity.
The committee was told that eight critical staff members are currently serving on annual contracts, including six data-entry officers and a surveyor, among others.
Some of the employees have reportedly served on successive contracts for up to nine years.
Aduma, however, said there was hope that the situation would be addressed following discussions between the Ministry of Lands and the responsible authorities.
“Last week, we had a meeting with all the ministers of lands, and we got information that the Ministry of Lands was given some substantial wage. And the ministers are lobbying that all these ones who are on contract can be regularised. Such that we don’t take back all that money to the coffers,” he hinted.