More than 100 government officials in Rukungiri and Kanungu districts have been ordered out of office following allegations of corruption, abuse of authority, nepotism, mismanagement of public funds and persistent failures in service delivery.
The officials were among more than 200 local government employees targeted in a sweeping accountability exercise conducted by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, during a six-day inspection tour of the Kigezi sub-region.
The operation, conducted under the minister’s nationwide anti-corruption campaign dubbed “Expose the Corrupt,” involved inspections of government projects, scrutiny of public expenditure and investigations into complaints about the management of public institutions.
The interdictions in Kanungu affected 49 officials, while another 64 were named in directives covering Rukungiri District and Rukungiri Municipality.
The minister said the affected officials would be investigated and that those found responsible for wrongdoing would face disciplinary or legal action.
Kanungu District: 49 officials interdicted
Kanungu District was among the areas hit by the minister’s directives, with 49 officials ordered to step aside over allegations ranging from corruption and abuse of office to negligence and poor service delivery.
The senior officials named included Deputy Resident District Commissioner Gad Ahimbisibwe Rugaju, Chief Administrative Officer Awuye Abdallah, District Education Officer Shaban Adam, former District Engineer Eric Mutumba, District Production Officer Godwin Nkwasibwe and Inspector of Schools Erasmus Tuyishime.
Others were Kihihi Town Council Town Clerk Ahumuza Allen, Rutenga Sub-county Community Development Officer Pamela Kankimusimire, Senior Procurement Officer Elisa Mukuni, Senior Health Educator Simon Nsimamukama and Dr Benon Musasizi of Kanungu Health Centre IV.
Kigubu Sulaiman and an ambulance driver were also among those named.
Barugahara accused some officials of failing to perform their responsibilities, pointing to concerns about poor working conditions and hygiene in health facilities, as well as delays in promoting health workers who had served for several years.
He said the interdictions were necessary to allow investigations into the complaints while addressing concerns raised by residents over the performance of government institutions.
Rukungiri District: Senior administrators, engineers and finance officers named
Rukungiri recorded one of the largest groups of interdictions, with 64 officials from the district local government and municipality affected.
Among the most senior officials caught up in the exercise was Resident District Commissioner Bron Kikanshemeza, who was arrested during the minister’s visit.
The minister also ordered the arrest of Nyakishenyi Sub-county LC3 Chairperson Wednesday Twinomujuni over allegations involving the sale of association vehicles and land, as well as the mismanagement of funds.
The Rukungiri District Service Commission, led by chairperson Canon Yosia Twirire, also came under scrutiny over alleged financial irregularities involving its members and secretary.
Barugahara further questioned the management of funds belonging to headteachers’ associations and savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs).
The district officials named in the interdiction directive included District Water Engineer Deus Twekwase, Senior Procurement Officer Godwin Murekyezi, District Education Officer Jackson Turyahumura, District Commercial Officer Grace Tayebwa, District Internal Auditor Sarah Aine, District Principal Inspector of Schools Peace Atamba and District Engineer Julius Bagyira.
Others were Civil Engineer Alex Karamuzi, Senior Lands Officer Martin Agaba, Senior Internal Auditor Amon Atuheire, former Chief Administrative Officer Hajji Swalihk Wasswa Masokoyi, Senior Internal Auditor Amon Ahurira and Commercial Officer Michael Kamugabirwe.
The list also included Kebisoni Town Council Treasurer Flankline Twinomujuni, Eastern Division Town Clerk Evas Kyobutungi, Buyanja Town Council Clerk Nicholas Kahumuza and Chief Finance Officer Jorum Asiimwe.
Two former town council officials now serving elsewhere were also named: former Town Clerk Prosper Tagobya, who is currently serving in Masaka City, and former Town Clerk and Treasurer Loy Biboona, now serving in Ntungamo District.
Accountants, parish chiefs and education officials
The directive extended beyond senior administrators to officers responsible for handling public finances, human resources, environmental management and service delivery at the lower local government levels.
Those named included District Forestry Officer Arthur Twinomujuni, Senior Assistant Secretary Prosper Byarugaba, District Population Officer Amos Gumisiriza, Kebisoni Accounts Assistant Noah Mutesasira, Nyakagyeme Sub-county Accounts Assistant Robert Mugabe and Buhunga Health Centre III Accounts Assistant Agnes Atwine.
Others were Buhunga Sub-county Senior Accounts Assistant Wilson Musiimenta, Kebisoni Senior Accounts Assistant Geoffrey Twinomwe, Bugangari Sub-county Accounts Assistant Boaz Musingunzi, District Senior Environmental Officer Caroline Mbabazi, Buyanja Town Council Human Resource Officer Andrew Arinda, Buyanja Town Council Community Development Officer Arthur Muhanguzi and Buyanja Assistant Agricultural Officer Jennifer Kyasimire.
The list further featured Senior Assistant Treasurer Wilberforce Kansiime, District Salary Accounts Officer Isaac Akasinguzi, District Civil Engineer Emmie Tukashaba and District Internal Auditor Wilber Ahimbisibwe.
Health and education personnel were not spared. They included Buhunga Health Centre III Health Officer Babisha Kasigazi, Kebisoni Integrated Primary School Headteacher Musasizi Herbert, Bucence Primary School Headteacher Julius Barigye and Kyaburere Primary School Headteacher Edward Tukamukunda.
Rukungiri Health Centre IV Clinical Officer Hillary Arinda and Kebisoni Health Centre IV Cold Chain Assistant Henry Twesigye were also named.
Several parish chiefs appeared on the list, including Burombe Parish Chief Derrick Kabakoriyo, Nyakashenyi Parish Chief John Bosco Gumoshabe, Bikongozo Parish Chief Timothy Byoona, Parish Chief Elias Agaba Kazahe, Parish Chief Kenneth Turyagyenda and Ndere Parish Chief Arthur Nimusiima.
Kasoroza Primary School Headteacher Emmanuel Musinguzi was also listed.
The minister separately directed that parish chiefs accused of demanding money from beneficiaries be arrested and removed from their positions.
Rukungiri Municipality: Town clerks, engineers and revenue officers affected
The accountability exercise also extended to Rukungiri Municipality, where several officials in charge of education, engineering, revenue collection and administration were named.
Those affected included Municipal Education Officer Robert Agume, Municipal Engineer Merynah Kekiijo, Revenue Officer Alex Karugaba and Municipal Inspector of Schools Julius Musiimenta.
The list also featured former Town Clerk Robert Niwamanya, Municipal Town Clerk Isaiah Tumwesigye, Municipal Roads Inspector Devis Ahimbisibwe, Assistant Town Clerk Rachel Natuhurira, Municipal Labour Officer Andrew Mwongyera and Senior Human Resource Officer Cosma Mugamba.
As the exercise progressed, Barugahara directed that Southern Division Town Clerk Clara Aheebwa and Kangunga Seed Secondary School Headteacher Amos Gumisiriza be added to the list.
He also instructed the Chief Administrative Officer to ensure that positions occupied by officials who were persistently absent or neglecting their responsibilities were advertised to give other qualified and willing candidates an opportunity to serve.
Government warns of further action
Barugahara said the interdictions were part of a broader government effort to confront corruption and restore accountability in local government institutions.
He maintained that the complaints raised during the regional tour would be investigated and that officials found culpable would face the appropriate disciplinary or legal consequences.
The minister’s campaign has focused on allegations of public resource theft, nepotism, abuse of office, financial mismanagement and failures by government employees to deliver essential services.
The interdictions are intended to allow investigations to proceed, although the allegations against the affected officials have not, by themselves, established individual guilt.
You can see names of other top officials who have been ordered out of their offices in other districts of Kigezi sub region Here.
