The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has uncovered a case in which a former clinical officer at Bombo Health Centre III in Luwero District reportedly earned more than Shs81 million in salaries over nearly ten years without actively working at the facility.
According to the IG, Habib Hussein was recruited by the Luwero District Service Commission in 2006 as a clinical officer on probation and was confirmed in the position in 2008.
He was initially posted to Nyimbwa Health Centre IV before later being transferred to Bombo Health Centre III, where his responsibilities included diagnosing, managing, and treating patients.
Investigations, however, revealed that in 2010 Hussein took up full-time employment with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-governmental organisation, based in Masaka, but did not formally resign from his government position.
In a press statement released by the Inspectorate of Government on Tuesday, March 10, officials said Hussein continued receiving a government salary from Luwero District despite no longer performing his duties at the health facility.
The IG said Hussein effectively abandoned his responsibilities at Bombo Health Centre III while concentrating on his work with the NGO.
“His actions contravened Section F–E paragraph 1 of the Public Service Standing Orders, 2010, which states that a public officer shall not engage in any occupation or undertaking for gain outside official duties that requires attention during official working hours,” the statement reads.
During the investigations, Hussein reportedly admitted breaching the Public Service Standing Orders and agreed to refund the money he irregularly received.
The Inspectorate has since ordered him to refund Shs81,258,358, which he received as salary from August 2010 to January 2020, despite not working at the health centre.
He has been directed to deposit the money into the IG recovery account held at the Bank of Uganda.
“His acceptance to refund the money affirms the Inspectorate of Government’s unwavering commitment to thoroughly investigate corruption cases and ensure accountability for public resources,” the statement added.
The case has raised concerns among local leaders and residents in Luwero over the effectiveness of supervision mechanisms in public health facilities.
Health centres are subject to several layers of oversight, including LC III and LC V councils, the district health department, the human resource office, and the Chief Administrative Officer, all of whom are expected to ensure staff presence and performance.
Osman Kassim Ramadhan, the LC III Chairperson of Bombo Town Council, expressed regret over the payments and blamed gaps in the district’s human resource management system.
However, he noted that in recent years the district has strengthened its monitoring systems. Staff are now required to sign monthly attendance lists approved by the facility in-charge before being submitted to the district for salary processing.
Kassim added that health centres also have Health Management Teams responsible for monitoring staff performance and reporting irregularities to local authorities for action.
By press time, Luwero District leadership had not yet issued an official comment on the matter.
During a visit to Luwero District in 2024, the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, revealed that despite government salary enhancements for health workers, her office had received numerous complaints about poor service delivery and persistent absenteeism among medical staff in the district.
Reports indicate that some health workers frequently absent themselves from government facilities while spending much of their time working in private clinics, a practice that continues to undermine public healthcare services.
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