Minister orders interdiction of 12 senior Mbarara City officials in nationwide anti-corruption drive
"I am committed to ensuring we have a clean, corruption-free country. Corrupt officers will no longer find a hiding place in local government."
MBARARA CITY, August 6, 2026 — The Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has ordered the immediate arrest and interdiction of 12 senior Mbarara City officials over allegations of corruption, abuse of office and gross financial mismanagement that reportedly resulted in the loss of more than Shs 3 billion in public funds.
The directive was issued on Wednesday during a high-level community dialogue [baraza] at Independence Park in Mbarara City, held as part of the minister’s ongoing inspection tour of the Ankole Sub-region under the nationwide #ExposeTheCorrupt campaign.
Senior city officials targeted in anti-corruption crackdown
The officials affected include Mbarara City Town Clerk Justine Barekye, Deputy Town Clerk Simon Ejau, Revenue Enforcement Officer Sam Rwakinanga, City Environment Officer Sancho Nuwagaba, and Mbarara City North Division Revenue Officer Donanti Mutahi.
Others are City Health Officer Dr Longino Kaijukye, City Commercial Officer Allan Buhanda Karakure, Senior City Engineer Hilary Mugisha, Principal Commercial Officer James Agaba, who is currently deployed in Fort Portal, former Deputy Town Clerk Richard Mugisha, and former City Engineer William Byaruhanga.
Addressing city leaders and residents alongside Mbarara City Mayor Robert Kakyebezi, Barugahara outlined a catalogue of financial irregularities uncovered by technical audits. These included inflated contract variations, illegal property tax management schemes, unaccounted-for salary advances and unauthorised land acquisitions.
Wetland land deals raise questions over public funds
“Mbarara City Council bought market land in Kikona for Shs 300 million in the 2021/2022 financial year, which turned out to be a wetland,” Barugahara said.
“The accounting officer and everyone involved in that transaction must be arrested and charged with causing financial loss to the Government. The Environment Officer must also be interdicted, and all officials involved, even those who have retired or been transferred to other districts, must be recalled to answer the charges they left behind.”
The minister also cited another controversial land purchase in Nyakayojo, where the city reportedly spent Shs 270mln on land located in a wetland directly beneath a high-voltage three-phase power line.
He further referred to a disputed land transaction in Biharwe involving former Deputy Town Clerk Richard Mugisha.
Officials accused of mismanaging empowerment funds
Barugahara criticised city authorities for retaining and promoting officers who had previously admitted to financial impropriety, particularly in relation to the management of revolving funds under government empowerment programmes.
“There is a commercial officer called Donanti Mutahi who stole Emyooga funds, was taken to court and entered a plea bargain to refund the money,” Barugahara said.
“A person who steals revolving funds meant for the public should not remain in office. Instead of dismissing him, the city authorities promoted him to Division Revenue Officer. He must be interdicted immediately to face the law.”
“Similarly, James Agaba, who was involved in the same case and was transferred to Fort Portal as Principal Commercial Officer, must be recalled and interdicted. You cannot recycle a thief from one district to another and expect ethics to prevail in the public service.”
City faces billions in alleged financial losses
The minister further alleged that the city lost Shs 712mln through property tax management irregularities, Shs 216mln in irregular contract variations on the Col Ndahendekire Road project, and Shs 1.7 billion due to delays in implementing the Buremba–BSU and Victor Bwana road projects.
He also ordered forensic audits into works on Katete Bridge, patient sheds at Nyakayojo and Ruti health centres, which were reportedly constructed at Shs 64mln each, as well as the daily revenue collections from the city abattoir.
Procurement officer exposes alleged irregularities
During the dialogue, Principal Procurement Officer Dinah Mwije defended her record, saying her earlier interdiction by the Town Clerk had been malicious after she declined to approve undocumented procurement transactions.
“My interdiction was malicious because I refused to process undocumented contracts,” Mwije said.
“When the State House Anti-Corruption Unit ordered my reinstatement in July 2026, I returned to office and found serious procurement irregularities. New contracts worth billions of shillings had been awarded without any paperwork or signed files on record.”
Anti-corruption agencies ordered to investigate procurement deals
In response to Mwije’s revelations, Barugahara directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the Regional Criminal Investigations Directorate [CID] to conduct an immediate audit of all procurement files for the 2025/2026 financial year.
He also ordered the immediate arrest of Mbarara Central Market SACCO Chairman Simpson Mugabi after an audit allegedly revealed that Shs 101.2mln in government grant funds had disappeared, leaving only Shs 680,000 in the SACCO’s safe.
Mayor pledges support for corruption fight
Welcoming the minister’s intervention, Mbarara City Mayor Robert Kakyebezi pledged the local leadership’s full cooperation in rooting out corruption within the city administration.
“As local leaders, we shall not oppose these interventions because we all want a new Uganda free from corruption,” Kakyebezi said.
“Whoever is found guilty of corrupt practices must refund what was stolen from the public.”
Minister vows continued crackdown on corruption
Concluding his address, Barugahara reiterated the Government’s commitment to fighting corruption, saying his inspection tour would continue across the remaining districts in the Ankole Sub-region, including Mbarara, Buhweju and Mitooma.
“This war is not my personal war, nor is it merely political, it is a war for all Ugandans who deserve quality service delivery,” Barugahara said.
“I am committed to ensuring we have a clean, corruption-free country. Corrupt officers will no longer find a hiding place in local government.”
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
