The National Mining Company has experienced a turbulent start, with its pioneer board chairperson resigning, his deputy being sacked, and the chief executive officer and his deputy now suspended in less than two years since the company was established.
The leadership shake-up raises questions about the governance and management of the state-owned company, which was established to safeguard government interests in the mining sector as part of the country’s long-term development agenda, including the Fourth National Development Plan, Vision 2040 and the Tenfold GDP Growth Strategy.
In its latest intervention, the Inspectorate of Government has directed the acting board chairperson to interdict Chief Executive Officer Dr Gerald Banaga-Baingi and Chief Corporate and Legal Affairs Officer Lelia K. Bwambale to facilitate investigations into allegations of mismanagement at the company.
The directive, issued on Thursday afternoon, cites Article 230(2) of the 1995 Constitution and Section 13(6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act as the legal basis for suspending the officials’ powers and functions in the public interest.
“The interdiction is intended to facilitate investigations into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, and abuse of office involving the two officials,” the Inspectorate said in a statement.
The acting board chairperson was also directed to make interim arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted discharge of the suspended officials’ responsibilities during the investigations.
The statement did not provide further details about the specific offences under investigation. However, the latest development comes amid reports of alleged financial mismanagement, irregularities in procurement and recruitment, and claims that some board members influenced the appointment of relatives.
The allegations reportedly deepened divisions between the company’s executive management and its board, prompting the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to conduct an audit of the institution. Reports also indicated that some board members declined to attend sessions related to the investigations, further highlighting the governance challenges facing the company.
The latest suspensions follow a leadership shake-up announced by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development on September 24, 2026, when the ministry confirmed the departure of the company’s pioneer board chairperson, James Mukasa Ssebugenyi, and his deputy, James Byakagaba.
While Ssebugenyi tendered his resignation, Byakagaba was directly removed from his position. The circumstances surrounding Ssebugenyi’s departure, however, prompted speculation among the public and observers within the institution that he may have been pushed out or pressured to resign.
The ministry’s formal directive, signed by Energy and Mineral Development Minister Dr Monica Musenero, was issued internally on September 24 before being made public the following morning.
Announcing the changes, Musenero said the leadership changes were “part of measures to address governance and management challenges affecting the company.”
The minister subsequently appointed Maria Kiwanuka as acting board chairperson, tasking her with helping to address the governance and management challenges and support the company’s recovery programme-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
