Uganda's Ministry of Local Government has ordered the immediate interdiction of 27 officials from Ntungamo District Local Government and Ntungamo Municipal Council over allegations of gross negligence, abuse of office and mismanagement of public resources. The Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, issued letters on October 19, 2026 directing the Chief Administrative Officer and Town Clerk to suspend the officials to allow investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other government agencies. Of those interdicted, 22 work for the district local government and five for the municipal council.
The suspension follows a visit to Ntungamo on October 14 by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, during which he raised concerns about accountability and service delivery. Among the issues identified was an estimated Shs5.9 billion in payroll irregularities in Ntungamo District Local Government during the 2022/2023 financial year, including 38 uncertified ghost staff and 69 ghost health-centre cost centres. The minister also questioned the procurement of 18 three-seater desks distributed to 34 government schools at a cost of Shs182 million, with each desk said to have cost Shs298,000. Additional concerns included more than Shs130 million reportedly spent on a building at Nyamurindira Primary School and Shs45 million invested in a solar-powered production well in Nyarwanya Parish, where residents said water was unavailable.
Among those suspended from the district are Chief Finance Officer Lawrence Bitwiromunda, District Education Officer Denis Ntare, District Community Development Officer Ambrose Tusiime, and several others holding senior finance, administrative and engineering positions. The five municipal officials suspended include Municipal Inspector of Schools Gladys Turigye, Municipal Engineer Fred Tumusiime and Municipal Accountant Banex Nuwagaba. The letters state that the alleged misconduct had greatly compromised service delivery in both the district and municipality.
Barugahara also raised concerns about the management of the road fund in Ntungamo Municipality and Shs300 million reportedly invested in the municipal matooke market. He questioned the recruitment of allegedly unqualified personnel, calling for appointments based on merit and professional qualifications. The interdictions are intended to allow investigations to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred, though the suspension of several senior officers raises questions about how service delivery will be maintained during their absence.
The directive instructed the accounting officers to act in accordance with Section F-s-14 of the Public Service Standing Orders, 2021. The allegations against the officials have not been established, and the investigations are expected to determine the outcome of the cases.