Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered the arrest and interdiction of several Masindi District and Municipal Council officials over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, extortion, causing financial loss and mismanagement of government projects.
The officials, drawn from departments including works, finance, production, procurement, education, health, water and environment, were named during Barugahara’s “Expose the Corrupt Campaign” at Kabango Primary School in Kabango Town Council on Wednesday.
Among those targeted are Benjamin Byarugaba, the former Chairperson of the Masindi District Service Commission, and Angela Nyandera, the current Secretary of the commission, over allegations of extorting money from job seekers and selling government jobs.
Several people testified against the two officials during the meeting, alleging that they were asked to pay between Shs5 million and Shs20 million for government jobs but never received the positions after making the 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 and was allegedly asked for Shs16 million by Byarugaba.
Hawa said she paid the money after Byarugaba allegedly told her that Shs10 million would go to him while Shs6 million would be sent to the Public Service Commission. She said she never got the job despite paying the money. Barugahara immediately directed police to arrest Byarugaba and Nyandera. The two officials did not attend the meeting and could not respond to the allegations.
The minister also ordered the arrest of Dr Fred Sebuguzi, the former acting Production Officer, over allegations that he misappropriated Shs110 million intended for a micro-scale irrigation project. Barugahara further directed the Town Clerk of Masindi Municipal Council to interdict Principal Education Officer Sam Peter Ayebale and Building Engineer Robert Magezi over the management of Shs120 million allocated to renovate five classroom blocks at Kamurasi Demonstration Primary School.
The directive followed concerns raised by Godfrey Kugonza, the municipal councillor representing Kikwanana Ward, who questioned the cost of the renovation, particularly because the school had received free iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister for the works. Barugahara said the condition of the renovated buildings raised questions about whether the project had delivered value for money and ordered investigations into how the funds were spent.
He also ordered the arrest and interdiction of Godfrey Mirimo, the Principal Health Officer at Masindi Municipal Council, over allegations concerning funds allocated to install electricity at Kibwona Health Centre II, Kibyama Health Centre II and Katasenywa Health Centre III. Barugahara said funds for electrifying Kibwona Health Centre had been released about two years ago, but electrical works only began on Tuesday night, shortly before his visit.
The minister also ordered the recall, arrest and interdiction of former Masindi Municipal Town Clerk Daniel Kasala, who has since been transferred to Mubende Municipality, and Municipal Engineer John Kasaija. The two officials were directed to account for Shs340 million released for construction of the new municipal administration block. Barugahara said the project had taken about six years to complete and was still without furniture.
He said the ongoing works did not demonstrate value for money and ordered the officials to account for the funds released so far. The minister also directed action over Shs321 million disbursed to 24 Emyooga SACCOs in Masindi District, saying only 21 of the SACCOs were active. He directed authorities to take action against SACCO leaders and members accused of failing to repay the funds.
Acting District Engineer Joseph Sunday Atwooki was also ordered arrested and interdicted over allegations that he hired out a district grader to a private individual. The grader had reportedly been assigned to open the Kimengo-Karangwe-Kiryana road. Barugahara further ordered action against District Engineer Alfred Ochen Alfred over questions surrounding computers at St Andrea Kaahwa Seed Secondary School in Labongo Sub-county that were reportedly damaged by an electrical fault.
The project, according to the minister, was worth more than Shs200 million, but Ochen allegedly failed to provide satisfactory accountability. District Commercial Officer Moses Kalyegira was also targeted after Kisarach John, the district councillor representing Kyatiri Town Council, accused him of conniving with other individuals to facilitate the alleged grabbing of 230 hectares of land belonging to Akumulikire Cooperative Society in Kiruli Sub-county.
Kalyegira was also faulted over alleged failure to properly monitor the implementation of the Parish Development Model in the district. Meanwhile, Barugahara directed the District Public Accounts Committee to investigate how Masindi Municipality spent Shs510 million allocated by the government for activities related to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The committee is expected to establish how the money was spent and whether the activities delivered value for money. Barugahara’s directives form part of his ongoing “Expose the Corrupt Campaign”, through which he has been visiting local governments and receiving complaints from members of the public about alleged misuse of public resources and poor service delivery-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
