The Office of the President is facing scrutiny from Parliament after a report revealed that more than half of its land holdings across Uganda remain untitled, sparking concerns over accountability and the risk of government property being lost.
According to the Auditor General’s report from December 2024, 27 out of 48 properties managed by the Office have no registered land titles, even though several of these sites already house publicly funded buildings. The findings were discussed during a May 7 session of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where lawmakers questioned officials from the President’s Office.
Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi, who raised the matter during the hearing, criticized the lack of documentation, calling it a serious governance issue.
“How can we justify spending public money on developing land that hasn’t even been titled or properly measured?” Kivumbi asked. “This exposes critical government assets to encroachment and disputes.”
Responding to the concerns, the Secretary in the Office of the President, Yunus Kakande, admitted there were delays but said the process of acquiring titles is ongoing.
“Out of the 27 plots, about 17 were donated by district administrations for the purpose of constructing government offices,” Kakande said. “We’re working to finalize the titling and need about two more years to complete the process.”
Kivumbi, however, was not satisfied with the explanation and questioned whether any progress had been made since the audit was conducted.
“You claim to be close to completion, but the audit is already several months old,” he said. “The Office of the President should be a benchmark for transparency and efficiency—not the opposite.”
He also praised State House for maintaining better records, saying that even with concerns over expenditure, their documentation was far superior.
“If State House can keep its accounting in order, so can the President’s Office,” he added. “We shouldn’t be spending our time discussing such basic lapses.”
Further criticism was directed at the government’s handling of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs). Kivumbi pointed out that while appointments are made, there is often no budget allocation for essential support such as drivers.
“You appoint RDCs and provide them with vehicles worth Shs100 million, yet many don’t even have driving permits,” he noted. “It’s no surprise when the vehicles end up damaged. Many of these positions are filled by politically unsuccessful individuals who lack the necessary qualifications.”
The PAC has called for swift action to address the concerns, emphasizing the importance of securing government property and ensuring responsible use of public resources.
