By Karim Were
A surprise inspection by Aisha Naluze has laid bare deep-rooted dysfunction within public institutions in Mukono District, exposing a system struggling with accountability, staffing crises, and escalating land conflicts.
Rather than isolated lapses, the visit revealed a pattern of institutional breakdown. Critical offices—including the district headquarters, municipal council, police division, and a Ministry of Lands zonal office—were found operating far below capacity, with some nearly paralyzed. At the Lands office, over 70 percent of staff were absent, leaving citizens stranded and key services stalled.
District leaders attributed the crisis to the suspension of the District Service Commission, which has effectively frozen recruitment and worsened staffing shortages across departments. This vacuum has not only disrupted essential services like healthcare delivery but also created opportunities for malpractice, including alleged land grabbing.
Concerns over land disputes dominated discussions at the municipal level. Officials pointed to increasing encroachment on public land, including a contested case involving Nakagere UMEA Primary School. The shortage of protected public land has forced authorities into costly alternatives, such as purchasing land for government projects.
While local leaders called for swift intervention, the IGG’s response signaled a shift toward stricter enforcement. Absent staff from the Lands office have been summoned to Kampala to account for their conduct, marking a more direct push for disciplinary action.
Naluze also urged district authorities to adopt interim solutions—such as borrowing personnel from neighboring districts—to keep services running. At the same time, she committed to advancing investigations into alleged corruption within the District Service Commission, a key factor in the ongoing administrative paralysis.
The inspection extended to the police division, reflecting a broader effort to enforce accountability across all public service sectors. The findings underscore a growing concern: without structural fixes and enforcement of discipline, service delivery failures may continue to deepen, further eroding public trust.
