By Ambrose Kweronda
www.mknewslink.com
In Rubanda——-
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered the interdiction of 16 civil servants attached to Rubanda District Local Government over allegations of corruption, abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government.
The minister issued the directive on Saturday during his anti-corruption campaign in Rubanda District, where he also ordered the immediate transfer of the District Police Commander, John Bosco Tumwebaze, to police headquarters to face a disciplinary tribunal over allegations of mishandling cases and releasing suspects implicated in killings.
The interdicted officials include District Engineer John Hahimana, District Water Officer David Otika, former Chief Finance Officer Livingstone Natukunda, Principal Human Resource Officer Akileo Tubenawe, Human Resource Officer Pamella Kanyesigye, District Agriculture Officer Ronald Mwebesa and former District Engineer Denis Twesiwomwe, who is currently serving as an engineer at Rukungiri Municipality.
Others are District Inspectors of Schools Merekizodec Asiimwe and Christine Komuhangi, District Education Officer Francis Serununi, District Procurement Officer Medard Katabazi, Assistant Secretary Gideon Mutamweba, Procurement Officer Caleb Akoragye, Assistant Commercial Officer Innocent Arinda, Community Development Officer Rebecca Natukunda and parish chief Rachael Atukunda.
The officials reportedly did not attend a meeting convened by the minister.
In a report presented during the meeting, Barugahara accused Rubanda district authorities, led by Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Ahabwe, of allegedly recruiting and promoting civil servants based on religious affiliation, with preferential treatment reportedly given to Catholics.
The minister cited the case of Joshua Nkurunziza, who was allegedly denied promotion on the instructions of Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba because he is a Protestant.
According to Barugahara, Kasyaba directed the District Service Commission to identify another candidate who subscribes to the Catholic faith, despite Nkurunziza reportedly meeting the qualifications for the position.
Barugahara also alleged that Dr. Godfrey Bampabwire was denied promotion to District Health Officer because he is a Protestant. He further cited the case of Michael Bizimana, a water officer who was allegedly denied promotion to Senior District Water Officer on similar grounds.
The minister also questioned the distribution of government resources during the 2025/2026 financial year, alleging that Catholic-founded schools received preferential treatment in the allocation of development projects.
Among the projects he cited was a multipurpose hall reportedly costing 284 million shillings, a 475-million-shilling ICT hall at St Agatha Girls Secondary School in Kakore and a second-phase multipurpose hall at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in Muko, reportedly costing 48 million shillings.
Other projects included a three-classroom block at Kabaya Primary School costing 149 million shillings, another at Ruhonwa Primary School costing 150 million shillings and a third at Kashasha Primary School costing 148 million shillings. Barugahara said the schools were affiliated with the Catholic Church.
He contrasted these investments with what he described as limited infrastructure support to Protestant-founded schools, citing the construction of latrines at Murambo I Primary School and Buzungu Primary School, each reportedly costing 28 million shillings.
Barugahara said Protestant-founded schools mainly benefited from latrine construction during the financial year, which he described as unfair.
He further alleged that roofing materials, including iron sheets worth 135 million shillings, and desks worth 92 million shillings were distributed mainly to Catholic-founded schools.
The minister called on the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to take over the matter and investigate the allegations.
Barugahara accused District Engineer John Hahimana of falsely claiming that 50 million shillings had been spent on fuel for the rehabilitation of the Ihunga–Nshanjare Road, yet the fuel had allegedly been supplied by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), an agricultural development organisation.
He also accused former Chief Finance Officer Livingstone Natukunda of releasing 99.7 million shillings during the 2024/2025 financial year for fuel to rehabilitate the same road, despite the alleged provision of fuel by IFDC.
The minister questioned the expenditure of 32.9 million shillings reportedly released for fuel to rehabilitate the Rubona–Kibuzigye Road and 52.66 million shillings for the Rubona–Kyabahinga Road, alleging that no work had been carried out on the roads.
Hahimana was further accused of misappropriating 115 million shillings allocated for the purchase of culverts, which Barugahara said were never procured.
In another allegation, the minister accused Hahimana of misappropriating 20.74 million shillings released in February 2025 to rehabilitate the Kashasha–Kiruruma Road, which he said had already been rehabilitated in 2024.
Barugahara also accused District Agriculture Officer Ronald Mwebesa of misusing funds intended for agricultural activities. He alleged that Mwebesa spent 57 million shillings on agricultural activities but diverted 4.6 million shillings to his personal business.
The minister questioned why Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Ahabwe continued releasing funds and paying Mwebesa’s salary despite allegations that the officer had absconded from duty.
Ahabwe and Hahimana were also accused of presiding over shoddy work on the Bugiri–Kakore Bridge, which reportedly cost 85 million shillings.
Officials accused of soliciting bribes
Barugahara further accused Principal Human Resource Officer Akileo Tubenawe, District Education Officer Francis Serununi and District Inspector of Schools Merekizodec Asiimwe of allegedly soliciting money from job seekers in exchange for employment, with the amounts reportedly ranging between four million and five million shillings.
During the meeting, Moses Tushabomwe reportedly came forward and testified that he had paid Tubenawe four million shillings in an attempt to secure a job but was never employed.
The minister directed all the interdicted civil servants to report to police and record statements within two days to facilitate investigations. He warned that the salaries of those who failed to comply would be withheld.
He also ordered that the duties of the interdicted officials be taken over by their deputies and junior staff to ensure continuity of public services.
Finance Minister Henry Musasizi Ariganyira, who also represents Rubanda East Constituency in Parliament, acknowledged that corruption remained a concern in the district and welcomed Barugahara’s intervention.
The Rubanda operation followed a similar directive issued on Friday, when Barugahara ordered the interdiction of 41 civil servants attached to Kabale District Local Government and Kabale Municipality over allegations of corruption, abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government.
Those affected at Kabale District Local Government include former Chief Administrative Officer John Asiimwe, Chief Finance Officer Amon Akampumuza, District Education Officer Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye, Natural Resources Officer Henry Tumwesigye, Principal Human Resource Officer Jacenta Tushabomwe, Senior ICT Officer Tobias Habaasa, District Engineer Januario Bagamuhunda and Senior Human Resource Officer Bright Akampurira.
Others are Procurement Officer Alex Turinawe, Assistant Water Engineer Barham Akanyijuka, Biostatistician Benon Kwitonda, Senior Assistant Mechanical Engineer Jude Tusiime, Senior Assistant Secretary and Clerk to Council Loyce Asiimwe, Conservation Officer Grace Aheise, District Accountant Adison Fat Biryomumeisho, former Buranga Primary School teacher Phionah Orishaba and District Inspector of Schools Drake Kisheija.
The list also includes Parish Chief and Works Department Office Attendant Georgina Karungi, Assistant Secretary Edith Tukamushaba, Senior Assistant Secretary at Katuna Town Council Enos Akandinda, Acting Senior Accountant Collins Ainembabazi, Maviri Denis, Internal Auditor Benjamin Ariyo, District Senior Forestry Officer, Principal Town Agent at Katuna Barbra Atuheire, Acting Assistant Town Clerk Kevin Ainebyoona, Forestry Officer Boaz Niwarimpa and Inspector of Schools Turinawe.
Other affected officials are Senior Assistant at Kibuga Town Council Milton Rwamastone, Principal Inspector of Schools Wilberforce Nabaasa, District Staff Surveyor Prosper Ahimbisibwe, Environmental Officer Allan Akampurira, District Production Officer Beda Mwebesa, Principal Agricultural Officer Deus Baguma, District Agricultural Engineer Paulino Ndyabanoha, Senior Engineer Levi Turyahikayo and Rubaya Sub-county Chief Ivan Mugayehwenki.
At Kabale Municipality, the affected officials are former Town Clerk Jamail Kasajja, who is now serving in Kasese, Deputy Town Clerk Sunday Eric, Northern Division Assistant Town Clerk Hilder Kashemeire, Assistant Town Engineering Officer Vincent Ahimbisibwe and Senior Internal Auditor Mwesigwa Kabweno.
The interdictions are intended to pave the way for investigations into the allegations. The claims against the affected officials have not, by themselves, established criminal liability.
