A number of officials in Masindi District Local Government and Masindi Municipality have reportedly stayed away from their workplaces following directives by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara for the arrest and investigation of staff accused of corruption, abuse of office, extortion and mismanagement of government projects.
The officials, drawn from departments including works, finance, production, procurement, education, health and water, were named during Barugahara’s “Expose the Corrupt Campaign” in Masindi on Wednesday.
The minister ordered the arrest, interdiction or investigation of several officials, including engineers, commercial officers, Parish Development Model officials, Emyooga officials and education authorities.
On Thursday, several of the officials named during the meeting reportedly did not report to their respective offices, amid concerns that they were avoiding possible arrest.
A source at Masindi District headquarters said that by 11am, most of the officials implicated during the meeting had not reported for duty.
Masindi Chief Administrative Officer Samuel Kasaija said the officials implicated in the allegations would be subjected to the necessary action.
Masindi District Police Commander Pensive Tukasiima also said police would implement the minister’s directives and take action against officials accused of wrongdoing.
Among those targeted are Benjamin Byarugaba, the former chairperson of the Masindi District Service Commission, and Angela Nyandera, the current secretary of the commission.
The two were accused of allegedly demanding money from job seekers in exchange for government employment.
During the meeting, several complainants alleged that they had been asked to pay between Shs5 million and Shs20 million for government jobs but did not receive the positions despite making payments.
One of the complainants, Night Hawa, 36, from Kinubi Cell in Hoima City, told the meeting that she applied for the position of environment officer at Masindi Municipal Council in 2025.
Hawa alleged that Byarugaba asked her for Shs16 million, claiming that Shs10 million would go to him while Shs6 million would be paid to the Public Service Commission.
She said she paid the money but was never offered the job.
Barugahara subsequently directed police to arrest Byarugaba and Nyandera. The two officials were not present at the meeting and therefore did not respond to the allegations.
The minister also ordered the arrest of Dr Fred Sebuguzi, the former acting production officer, over allegations that Shs110 million meant for a micro-scale irrigation project was misappropriated.
At Masindi Municipal Council, Barugahara directed the town clerk to interdict Principal Education Officer Sam Peter Ayebale and Building Engineer Robert Magezi over the management of Shs120 million allocated for the renovation of five classroom blocks at Kamurasi Demonstration Primary School.
The directive followed concerns raised by Godfrey Kugonza, the municipal councillor for Kikwanana Ward, about the cost of the renovation. Kugonza questioned the expenditure, noting that the school had received iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister for the project.
Barugahara said the condition of the renovated buildings raised questions about whether the project had provided value for money and directed that the expenditure be investigated.
He also ordered the arrest and interdiction of Godfrey Mirimo, the principal health officer at Masindi Municipal Council, over alleged irregularities concerning funds released to install electricity at Kibwona Health Centre II, Kibyama Health Centre II and Katasenywa Health Centre III.
According to the minister, funds for the electrification of Kibwona Health Centre had been released about two years ago, yet electrical works only started on Tuesday night, shortly before his visit.
Barugahara further ordered the recall, arrest and interdiction of former Masindi Town Clerk Daniel Kasala, who had been transferred to Mubende Municipality, and Municipal Engineer John Kasaija.
The two officials were directed to account for Shs340 million released for the construction of a new municipal administration block.
Barugahara questioned the length of time taken to complete the project, saying construction had continued for about six years and the building was still without furniture.
He said the progress and state of the project raised concerns about value for money and directed that the officials account for the funds released.
Acting District Engineer Joseph Sunday Atwooki was also targeted over allegations that he hired out a district grader to a private individual.
The grader had reportedly been assigned to work on the Kimengo-Karangwe-Kiryana road.
The minister also ordered action against District Engineer Alfred Ochen Alfred over accountability concerns involving computers supplied to St Andrea Kaahwa Seed Secondary School in Labongo Sub-county.
The computers, according to Barugahara, were part of a project worth more than Shs200 million and were reportedly damaged by an electrical fault. He said Ochen had failed to provide satisfactory accountability for the project.
District Commercial Officer Moses Kalyegira was also implicated after Kisarach John, the district councillor representing Kyatiri Town Council, accused him of colluding with others in the alleged attempted takeover of 230 hectares of land belonging to Akumulikire Cooperative Society in Kiruli Sub-county.
Kalyegira also faced criticism over alleged shortcomings in monitoring the implementation of the Parish Development Model in the district.
Meanwhile, Barugahara directed the Masindi District Public Accounts Committee to investigate the expenditure of Shs510 million allocated by the government to the municipality for activities related to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The directives are part of Barugahara’s ongoing “Expose the Corrupt Campaign”, during which he has been visiting local governments to receive complaints from residents concerning alleged corruption, misuse of public resources and poor service delivery.
The allegations against the officials have not been tested in court, and those implicated are entitled to respond to the accusations and to due process.
English 