By Ambrose Kweronda
www.mknewslink.com
In Kisoro—
Police in Kisoro District have arrested the Chairperson of the Kisoro District Service Commission and a town businessman over allegations of soliciting a Shs5 million bribe from a job seeker.
The suspect have been identified as Nshaka Erastus, 64, the Chairperson of the Kisoro District Service Commission and a resident of Kanyabukungu Village, Gisorora Parish, Nyakabande Sub-county, and Aliphonsi Muhanika, 61, a businessman from Nshora Village, Mabungo Parish, Nyarusiza Sub-county.
According to police, the duo allegedly solicited Shs 5 million from a person seeking employment through the Kisoro District Service Commission.
The two suspects are currently being held at Kisoro Central Police Station following complaints of abuse of office, extortion and corruption.
Police said the case file has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for consent. If the DPP grants consent, the suspects will be taken to court to answer the charges against them.
SP Nelson Tumushime, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, said police remain committed to ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability in public service recruitment.
He urged members of the public who may have fallen victims to extortion or irregular recruitment practices to report such cases to the nearest police station.
Tumushime also warned public officials against abusing their offices for personal gain, stressing that the law would be enforced without fear or favour.
The arrests come amid concerns over alleged irregularities in the recruitment of staff by the Kisoro District Local Government.
Philip Ntacyotugira, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, alleged that applicants seeking science-teaching positions were being asked to pay between Shs10 million and Shs15 million, while applicants for arts-teaching positions were allegedly being asked for between Shs3 million and Shs5 million.
Juliet Kamusiime, the woman councilor representing Nyanamo Town Council, also raised concerns over the recruitment of Education Assistants.
She alleged that out of 145 positions the district intended to fill, 119 successful candidates were women and 19 were men.
Kamusiime further alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Assistant Town Clerks, including the recruitment of six women for a position she said had been advertised as a single vacancy.
She also alleged that some female applicants were subjected to sexual exploitation during the recruitment process.