MBARARA – The relentless anti-corruption drive has put nearly 40 local government officials across the Ankole sub-region on the spot, as they face interdiction over allegations of graft, financial mismanagement, and abuse of office.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The crackdown, dubbed “Expose the Corrupt,” spearheaded by the Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has sent shockwaves through the districts of Isingiro, Buhweju, Mitooma, and Mbarara City.
The enforcement drive follows recommendations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, with the temporary suspensions designed to pave the way for impartial investigations into suspected high-level corruption.
The axe in Mitooma District fell on eight senior officials, with their interdiction formalized by Chief Administrative Officer Masereka Amis Asuman, who submitted the list to the Permanent Secretary in compliance with the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021.
The affected officials include District Health Officer Dr. Sadic Byamugisha, District Education Officer Ms. Barungi Peace Gloria, and several engineers and senior administrators, as the region-wide crackdown continues to gather momentum.
The situation in Mitooma was further inflamed by the arrest of a hospital ambulance driver accused of demanding 400,000 Uganda Shillings from a patient in exchange for emergency transport to the hospital.
Eight key officials in Isingiro District, including the district CAO, are under investigation over missing road funds, with the heads of natural resources, procurement, finance, commercial, and engineering departments also on the list.
Buhweju District faces an even more extensive probe, with 11 officials, including the Deputy CAO and the District Health Officer, facing scrutiny over corruption, administrative misconduct, and lack of requisite academic qualifications.
The Minister has additionally requested formal security probes into Buhweju’s top officials over the alleged mismanagement of a staggering Shs5 billion intended for road maintenance.
Mbarara City has not been spared either, with nine officials, including the Town Clerk, City Engineer, Finance Officer, and City Health Officer, being probed over mismanaged urban resources and controversial infrastructure projects.
Minister Barugahara emphasized that the suspensions are precautionary measures designed to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, allowing probes to proceed independently and without interference.
He clarified that the interdicted individuals remain suspects rather than convicted persons, with investigations expected to establish the facts while ensuring due process is fully observed.
“These interdictions are intended to allow investigations to proceed independently and without interference. The individuals listed are suspects, not convicted persons, and the investigations should establish the facts while ensuring that due process is fully observed,” Barugahara said.
The minister has since reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to safeguarding public resources and improving service delivery, with the Ankole actions forming part of a broader nationwide anti-corruption sweep.
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