By KT Reporter
Two Gomba District Service Commission members and an Inspector of Schools have been remanded to prison for soliciting bribes from job applicants.
The officials include John Bosco Mugerwa, the Chairperson and Michael Muwonge, the Secretary of the Gomba District Service Commission. The other is Charles Lwanga, the District Inspector of Schools.
The officials were arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and Police in a crackdown on officials involved in soliciting bribes from job applicants in the Greater Mpigi district.
On Friday, the three were presented to Gomba Grade one Magistrate Pauline Sabakaaki and charged with charges of demanding money with menaces and conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 273 of the Penal Code Act cap 128.
According to the charge sheet by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the two Service Commission members between the months of February and November 2024, with intent to steal, conspired and extorted money from different applicants who were required to pay bribes between 1 million and 20 million Shillings to be considered for jobs.
Mugerwa and Muwonge were charged with seven counts, where they solicited between shs 1-20 million from different applicants for the positions of district engineer, commercial officer, production officer, and sub-county chief.
The charge sheet indicates that some of the victims eventually secured senior positions within the district.
On the other hand, Lwanga was charged with extorting funds from various Headteachers in the district by promising better postings and promotions.
Lwanga was charged with two counts where he allegedly solicited shillings 2,000,000 and 4,000,000 to obtain favours from him during transfers and postings.
The three were remanded till July 25, 2025.
Three months ago, youths besieged the Gomba district service commission and vandalised the offices, accusing the members of soliciting bribes, which had made it difficult for them to acquire jobs in the district.
Early this month, the Mpigi Chief Magistrates Court also remanded Martine Ssejjemba, the District LC5 Chairperson, and two members of the District Service Commission over allegations of soliciting bribes during staff recruitment exercises. The others are Fredrick Kirumira, the Chairperson of the District Service Commission, and Sarah Nakamoga, Secretary to the District Service Commission.
They were arrested on Friday following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni, who received public complaints about corruption during his Parish Development Model (PDM) monitoring tour in Greater Mpigi on June 17, 2025. The President instructed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate and prosecute those implicated in the allegations.
They were charged with demanding money under threat from job applicants.
According to the prosecution, Nakamoga allegedly demanded 15 million Shillings, Kirumira 5 million Shillings, and Ssejjemba 1 million Shillings from candidates during the recruitment process.
Cases of soliciting bribes from applicants are widespread in districts.
Last year, the Chairperson of the Rakai District Service Commission, David Mpuuga, was arrested and charged after reportedly soliciting and receiving 20 million Shillings from a candidate in exchange for securing a position as Agricultural Officer.
His arrest followed a public outcry and complaints to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Rakai, who reported that Mpuuga was consistently demanding bribes for every available vacancy-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
