By KT Reporter
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has sentenced Ramadhan Ngobi, the headteacher of Nakazigo Primary School in Mayuge District, to 12 months in prison for embezzling funds meant for classroom construction.
According to prosecution, Ngobi, 58, withdrew 176 million shillings from the school’s Bank Account which was meant for construction of two classroom blocks and a five-stance latrine at the school. Instead of implementing the project, he used the funds for personal gain.
Presiding over the case, the Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit found Ngobi guilty on both embezzlement and abuse of office following successful prosecution by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) and thus convicted him to a 12-month sentence for embezzlement and 6 months for abuse of office, with the sentences to run concurrently.
In a separate document from the IG’s office, it was noted that following the conviction, Ngobi will also barred from occupying any public office for a period of 10 years, and ordered to refund 176m shillings which he embezzled and deposit it to the IG’s Asset Recovery Bank Account held in Bank of Uganda.
Corruption and embezzlement remain widespread in Uganda’s public schools, undermining service delivery and the quality of education. A 2021 report on the extent and cost of Corruption in the Education Sector in Uganda, by the Inspectorate of Government (IG), estimated that up to 18% of education grants are lost to embezzlement, amounting to approximately UGX 244 billion annually.
The report further noted that the total estimated cost of corruption in the education sector exceeds half of the national government’s annual spending on education.
“Losses due to embezzlement of the public budget not only drain financial resources but also result in in-kind costs for learners through reduced education quality. When public officials steal or divert funds and materials meant for schools, students ultimately receive less,” the report stated.
However, in light of the report, in recent years the Ministry of Education, the IG, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit have intensified efforts to root out corruption in the sector. These efforts have led to the arrest and prosecution of several headteachers, as well as local and ministry officials accused of colluding in embezzlement schemes.
Just this week, the principal of Kaliro National Teachers’ College was arrested on charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, and causing financial loss to the government. This follows another major case involving several headteachers from Ntungamo District who are alleged to have been stealing government funds by falsely declaring ghost pupils in their schools-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
