The Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, has directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, to immediately interdict Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General, Mercy Kainobwisho, as investigations into allegations of corruption and other misconduct at the Bureau continue.
The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has commenced investigations into allegations of embezzlement of government funds, abuse of office, money laundering, institutional mismanagement and maladministration at URSB.
According to the IGG, Kainobwisho’s interdiction is necessary to ensure that the investigations are conducted without interference and in the public interest.
The directive is based on Article 230 of the Constitution and Section 13(6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, Cap. 32, which empowers the IGG to make orders and issue directions considered necessary and appropriate in the circumstances during the course of investigations.
The IGG said public interest requires Kainobwisho to be suspended from exercising the powers and functions of her office while the investigations are ongoing.
Mao has also been directed, in consultation with the URSB Board, to put in place interim arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted performance of the Registrar General’s functions throughout the period of interdiction.
The Minister was further directed to suspend URSB’s scheduled residential Executive Training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, which was scheduled to run from August 16 to 21, 2026.
The training will remain suspended until the IG’s investigations are concluded or further guidance is issued.
In a separate directive, the IGG ordered the Chairperson of the URSB Board of Directors, Francis Butagira, to interdict three other senior officials pending investigations into allegations of corruption against them.
They are Aganya Alex, Deputy Registrar General; Arthur Kwesiga, Commissioner for ICT and Innovations; and Walid Kule, Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration.
Butagira has been directed to make appropriate interim arrangements for the affected offices in accordance with the law to ensure continuity of URSB services and prevent operational gaps.
He has also been instructed to ensure that the URSB Board, management and staff fully cooperate with the investigations and provide all necessary information and support to facilitate their completion.
The IGG reiterated the call to all public officials to uphold transparency, accountability and integrity in the execution of their duties.
Mao Places Five Officials On Mandatory Leave
Meanwhile, Mao said he had already placed five URSB officials, including Kainobwisho, on mandatory leave following a meeting with the Ministry’s top management.
In a message posted on X, Mao said that on August 18, he met the URSB Board and management as part of efforts to implement the directives concerning the Bureau.
In letters dated August 17, Mao informed the five officials that they had been placed on mandatory leave with immediate effect and would remain away from their duties until further notice.
“This is to inform you that you have been placed under Mandatory Leave from your role at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau effective Monday, 17th August 2026 until further notice,” Mao wrote.
He said the decision followed a directive from President Museveni to institute an audit of URSB’s activities, with the IGG expected to lead the investigations with assistance from auditors from the Office of the President.
Mao said the mandatory leave was intended to safeguard the integrity of the investigations.
“Your going on mandatory leave is to ensure the integrity of the investigation, and you will remain on leave until investigations are complete,” he said.
He added that during the period, Mustapha Ntale, the Deputy Registrar General in charge of Registries, would perform the functions of the Registrar General and assign relevant officers to act in the positions of the other officials placed on mandatory leave.
The investigations come amid heightened scrutiny of the management and operations of URSB, with the IGG directing that the affected officials remain out of office to allow the probe to proceed without interference.
The interdiction and mandatory leave are administrative measures pending the outcome of the investigations and do not, in themselves, constitute a finding of guilt against the affected officials.
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