The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has ordered the immediate interdiction of eight Masindi District and municipal officials over allegations of corruption, abuse of office, sale of government jobs, and causing financial loss to the government. The officials are expected to step aside to allow investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant government agencies.
Those affected include Joseph Sunday, the Masindi District Engineer; Fred David Ssebugizi, the District Production Officer; Angella Nyandera, the Secretary of the District Service Commission; Alfred Oceng, the District Water Officer; and Patience Ayesiga, the Community Development Officer for Kimengo Sub-county. The Masindi Municipal officials named in the directive are John Kasaija, the municipal treasurer; Godfrey Milimu, the municipal health officer; and Robert Magezi, the municipal works supervisor.
In a letter dated October 14, 2026, addressed to the Masindi Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the municipal town clerk, Kumumanya said the interdictions followed complaints raised during a meeting convened by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, in Masindi on October 7. “As you are aware, the Honourable Minister of Local Government convened a meeting in Masindi District on October 7, 2026, and several issues were raised against the above officers,” Kumumanya wrote.
“The issues raised against the officials in the meeting include gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources and possible financial impropriety, among others, which have greatly compromised service delivery in the district and the municipality. Accordingly, it has been decided that the officers be interdicted to pave the way for investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant government agencies,” he added.
The interdictions follow Barugahara’s visit to Masindi under the Expose the Corrupt Campaign, during which he ordered the arrest and interdiction of several officials over allegations ranging from corruption and extortion to mismanagement of government projects and causing financial loss. Among those accused is Nyandera, the Secretary of the Masindi District Service Commission, who was implicated in allegations of extorting money from job seekers in exchange for government employment.
During the October 7 meeting, several complainants alleged that they had been asked to pay between Shs5 million and Shs20 million for government jobs but never secured 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 to pay Shs16 million.
Hawa said she did not get the job despite paying the money, prompting Barugahara to direct police to arrest Nyandera. The minister also ordered the arrest of Ssebugizi, the District Production Officer, over allegations that he misappropriated Shs110 million intended for a micro-scale irrigation project. Another official, Milimu, the municipal health officer, was ordered arrested and interdicted over concerns about funds allocated to install electricity at Kibwona Health Centre II, Kibyama Health Centre II and Katasenywa Health Centre III.
Barugahara said funding for electrifying Kibwona Health Centre had been released about two years earlier but work on the electrical installation only began a day before his visit. The latest directive places the eight officials under scrutiny as investigations seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged misconduct and possible misuse of public resources-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
