Balaam orders arrest of six Rukiga officials over alleged corruption

Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara on Thursday ordered the arrest of six Rukiga District employees and a former sub-county chairperson over alleged corruption and fraudulent practices.

Mr Barugahara launched his campaign against corruption in the Kigezi sub-region at Rukiga District Council Hall, where he also asked the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the district service commission over alleged irregular staff recruitment.

Those named for arrest included former principal human resource officer Nicholas Kananura, chief finance officer Bruce Turyamushangayo, district education officer Christopher Ndyabegira, water engineer Evans Bangirana, district engineer Deogratious Mutabazi, district fisheries officer Richard Sajabi and former Rwamucucu Sub-county LCIII chairperson Eddy Mugisha, who was accused of taking land belonging to an elderly woman.

Mr Barugahara said he had gathered evidence of alleged corruption in the district, citing procurement irregularities, questionable staff recruitment and the distribution of construction materials to schools.

“I have investigated and have facts on corruption cases in which the district leaders failed to speak at this gathering,” he said.

He cited the procurement of 90 chairs at Shs950,000 each during the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year from a private company based in Kabale Municipality.

He also questioned the recruitment of staff transferred from other districts without evidence of their previous employment records.

Mr Barugahara further raised concerns about the purchase and distribution of iron sheets to primary schools for roofing classrooms that had allegedly not been constructed, saying there were no foundations for the classrooms and no council minutes authorising the exercise.

The minister also asked the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate the recruitment of a brother of Rukiga District Administrative Officer as an assistant engineer at Muhanga Town Council after he transferred his service from Mitooma District, where he had worked as an office attendant.

In his report, Mr Barugahara said Primary Seven and Senior Six candidates in some government-aided schools had been charged Shs30,000 and Shs165,000, respectively, for national examinations despite the government meeting the examination fees.

He urged the district administration to ensure that all local government land was titled to protect public property from land grabbers.

Rukiga leaders seek more funding

Rukiga District LCV Chairperson Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda asked the government to waive the 40 per cent tax deducted from district councillors’ allowances and increase the district’s wage allocation to enable it to recruit more staff and improve service delivery.

“We appeal to the government to consider the distribution of heavy road equipment such as the excavators to the districts in Kigezi region because of the hilly and rocky terrain to ease the cost of constructing and maintaining district roads,” Mr Rwamagyenda said.

He also called for higher allowances for district councillors, saying better pay would help them resist pressure from technocrats accused of engaging in corruption.

“We appeal to the government to consider increasing the payment for district councilors so that they can be motivated to fight the corrupt technocrats that usually compromise them because of the little pay they get,” he said.

Mr Barugahara later addressed a public gathering at Kakatunda Playground in Muhanga Town Council, where he listened to residents’ grievances, including land disputes, and asked district authorities to address them.