Eleven Manafwa District officials have been arrested, and more than 20 others have been recommended for interdiction over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, misuse of public resources, and other administrative irregularities. The arrests followed a visit to the district by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi on Thursday, September 18, as part of his ongoing “Expose the Corrupt” campaign.
Among those arrested are District Education Officer Rachael Nambuya; school inspectors Mungoma Masolo and Isaac Natifu; District Production Officer Boniface Obno; District Health Officer Ephraim Nakhokho; District Water Engineer Juliana Kahinju Akiki; District Agricultural Officer Hamfrey Mafumo; District Biostatistician Perez Masolo; Senior Agricultural Officer Patrick Natanga; and Assistant District Health Officers Stephen Waniala and Emmanuel Walekula.
Barugahara said the officials were implicated in alleged mismanagement of government resources and failure to ensure effective service delivery. “We have identified and arrested 11 plus over 20 officers who will be interdicted to pave the way for impartial investigations against them,” Barugahara said.
He said the interdictions would allow the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant authorities to establish whether government resources were misappropriated or mismanaged. Barugahara warned public officials against diverting government funds, saying such practices undermine service delivery and damage public confidence in government programmes.
He said government programmes and commitments were being implemented, but their intended impact could be undermined when resources are misused by officials responsible for implementation. Barugahara said officials found culpable after investigations would face appropriate administrative or legal action. Among the officials recommended for interdiction are Kigai Peter, Human Resource Officer at Bugobero Health Centre IV; Mercy Khiisa, Senior Community Development Officer of Masaka Town Council; Silas Mwasame, Agricultural Officer; David Erick Mukhooli, Manafwa District Inspector of Schools; Joseph Walyaula, Secretary to the District Service Commission; Betty Namono, Principal Human Resource Officer; Samuel Mandu, District Commercial Officer; Abdul Maberi, Senior Human Resource Officer; Ronald Kigai, Parish Chief; and Tsekoko Martin, District Community Development Officer, among others.
By press time, the officials who had been arrested had reportedly been taken to Mayenze Police Station in Manafwa District. A public rally was also scheduled to take place, where the minister was expected to provide further details on other officials recommended for interdiction.
Residents welcomed the action. Peter Wangolo, a resident of Manafwa Town Council, said the arrests and planned interdictions could serve as a warning to officials involved in wrongdoing. “Those who survived interdiction will work professionally after learning the consequences and inconveniences involved in the arrests and interdictions,” Wangolo said.
The operation forms part of Barugahara’s wider “Expose the Corrupt” campaign, under which government officials and projects in various districts have been subjected to inspections and accountability checks. The allegations against the Manafwa officials have not been proved. Investigations will determine whether they committed any offences or administrative breaches, and they remain presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent authority or court-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
