Uganda's Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered 29 officials from Kisoro District and Kisoro Municipality to step aside pending investigations into corruption allegations. The interdiction affects 25 officials from the district and four from the municipality, who face accusations of corruption, nepotism, abuse of office and mismanagement of public funds. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other agencies will conduct the investigations without interference from the suspended officials.
The action follows an anti-corruption tour by Barugahara in Kisoro District, during which he identified concerns about alleged misuse of public resources, poor implementation of government projects and irregularities in recruitment. Speaking at a public rally at Shaza Playground, the minister said the suspensions were intended to restore accountability and allow investigators to work without obstruction. Among those suspended are the Chief Administrative Officer John Nyakahuma, District Engineer James Karamire, District Production Officer Richard Habomugish, Principal Internal Auditor Gabriel Nkuriye Sebusogi, District Education Officer Emmanuel Mwumvaneza and District Inspector of Schools Emmanuel Mbonyebyombi, alongside District Agricultural Officer Harriet Mutuuzo, Principal Human Resource Officer Beatrice Komugisha and District Communications Officer Imelda Mukeshimana.
The minister also ordered the interdiction and immediate arrest of Kisoro District Parish Development Model focal person Herbert Ngabo Bubasha over alleged failure to account for funds intended for beneficiaries. Barugahara called for the arrest of former Kisoro Municipality Northern Division mayor Michael Bazamanza and former Central Division chairperson Ramathan Ndikuyeze, citing alleged embezzlement of Emyooga savings and credit cooperative organisation funds. A Kisoro District councillor for Nyarusiza Sub-county, John Mfitumukiza, was arrested over allegations of selling government jobs, while Kisoro Municipality Town Clerk Richard Mugisha was ordered to vacate office over allegations linked to government land.
For savers and borrowers in Uganda, these suspensions demonstrate government action to investigate mismanagement of public funds, though the allegations remain unproven in court.