Hoima District Senior Human Resource Officer Joel Munyagire has been ordered to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him over allegations that he extorted money from job seekers by promising to help them secure employment in the district local government.
The directive was issued by Hoima Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sarah Nakalungi following a police report indicating that Munyagire had allegedly committed extortion, with the case file reportedly submitted to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In a letter to Munyagire, Nakalungi said the alleged conduct contravened the Public Service Code of Conduct, public service ethics and the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders. “I received a status report from Police indicating that you committed an offence of extortion, and the file was submitted to the Resident State Attorney (RST) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP),” the letter reads in part.
She added that the alleged conduct brought the public service into disrepute and asked Munyagire to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. The letter was copied to the Hoima Resident District Commissioner, the district chairperson, the District Police Commander and the Principal Human Resource Officer.
Munyagire had not commented on the allegations by the time of publication.
In September, police in Hoima arrested Munyagire over allegations that he obtained Shs15 million from a health worker seeking employment in the district. He was arrested in Hoima City and taken to Hoima Central Police Station, where he was detained.
According to information provided by police at the time, Munyagire allegedly received the money after promising to help the complainant secure a job with the Hoima District Local Government. The complainant reportedly turned to police after the promised job failed to materialise, prompting investigations that led to Munyagire’s arrest.
Following the arrest, other individuals reportedly came forward with complaints alleging that they had also paid money to Munyagire after being promised employment opportunities. Police subsequently opened inquiries into allegations of extortion, bribery and obtaining money by false pretence.
The allegations have raised concerns about claims of financial exploitation of job seekers, who may be vulnerable to individuals promising access to public service employment in exchange for money.
The allegations against Munyagire also surfaced during a recent visit to Hoima by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, when several residents, particularly job seekers, reportedly implicated the officer in alleged extortion.
Some of the residents claimed they had paid between 10 million and 30 million Shillings in exchange for promises of employment in the district. The claims point to wider concerns about alleged corruption and the sale of public service jobs in Hoima, although the allegations against the individuals mentioned have yet to be established through the relevant legal and disciplinary processes.
Several district leaders, including LCV Chairperson Uthman Kadir Mugisa and Hillary Tumusiime, the secretary responsible for Production, Works and Natural Resources, are also reportedly under investigation over allegations including extortion, the sale of government jobs, causing financial loss to the government, corruption and abuse of office.
It remains unclear whether the investigations involving the other district officials are directly connected to the allegations against Munyagire.
The CAO’s directive marks a move towards addressing the allegations through the district’s administrative disciplinary process. However, the request for an explanation does not, in itself, establish guilt, and Munyagire is entitled to respond to the allegations against him-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
