By Spy Uganda Investigations Desk
President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly declined to renew the contract of Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Olive Namisango Kamya Turwomwe (BONKT), which officially expires this August,in a dramatic culmination of internal revolt, high-level intrigue, and policy contradictions within the anti-corruption architecture.
State House sources told our Spy that Museveni was recently compelled to intervene directly after growing discomfort over Kamya’s conduct in the controversial arrest and expulsion of Baker Mugaino, the embattled Commissioner for Land Registration, who had been executing a lawful court order in a longstanding land dispute. Instead of protecting an officer implementing judicial directives, Kamya is said to have ordered Mugaino’s incarceration, accusing him of abuse of office—a move that drew widespread condemnation across government ranks.
The final nail in Kamya’s tenure, insiders say, was her increasing isolation within her own office. Two of her deputies reportedly disowned her actions before the president, distancing themselves from her handling of Mugaino’s case. In a telling moment during a Friday meeting with the IGG, Museveni is said to have asked: “Why are you disturbing the son of a revolutionary?”—a thinly veiled reference to Mugaino, who enjoys strong backing from Bush War veterans.
Part from Mugaino family tiers with the 1986 revolution war, his wife is a daughter to the falled guerilar warfare of 1986, late Gen. Biraaro.
Museveni,in his sarcastic but serious tone,asked Kamya; “Do you have evidence against Mugaino?” to which Kamya answered; ” H.E excellence,were still investigating!” . At this point Museveni then asked, “So you’re causing arrest before Investigating? Interesting!”, he added before picking his phone to call Gen Saleh.
According to credible intelligence reaching Spy Uganda, Gen. Salim Saleh was then tasked with “handling” Kamya after Museveni, apparently got frustrated, told his brother: “Handle this lady, I can’t manage her.” Kamya was subsequently summoned to Gulu by Saleh, for a meeting described by sources as more of a political slaughterhouse than reconciliation.
Compounding her woes is the revelation that controversial motor mouthed journalist and regime insider Andrew Mwenda played a behind-the-scenes role in escalating Kamya’s dossier to both Saleh and the President. Mwenda, through his Independent Magazine, had earlier penned a scathing exposé accusing Kamya of weaponizing the IGG’s office to settle personal scores and warning that her actions could boomerang into prosecution.
Adding fuel to the fire was a recent incident in which Rt.Hon.Speaker Anita Among reportedly tried to smuggle Kamya into a private audience with the president to plead for her contract renewal. However, Museveni rebuffed the attempt, ordering instead: “Let her come with her deputies.” Kamya, who had banked on Among’s proximity to the president, was again left hanging, with sources confirming the meeting never took place.
Kamya turns to the media
With State House doors now seemingly closed, Kamya has reportedly pivoted to a media strategy aimed at salvaging her standing before the public—and possibly catching the president’s attention. Over the past week, she has made calculated appearances on national television to enumerate her “achievements” at the helm of the Inspectorate.
Notably, she recently booked a guest slot on NBS TV’s People and Power, hosted by Samson Kasumba. Our spy, who was monitoring the broadcast live on Sunday night, remarked, “This is not a coincidence—it’s a deliberate move. She’s hoping the big man is watching.” Political analysts say this marks a desperate but strategic shift as Kamya seeks to rewrite the narrative around her embattled tenure and appeal to the president’s sense of legacy on corruption. The genesis of the Kamya–Mugaino feud. This saga traces its roots back to a disputed land matter in which Commissioner Mugaino, acting under a court order, reinstated a party into land ownership—a standard administrative act. However, Kamya accused him of defying the IGG’s office and using his position to manipulate registries. She moved to have him arrested and removed from office, despite the Attorney General’s advisory urging her to seek presidential consultation before ejecting a presidential appointee. She ignored the counsel and proceeded unilaterally.
Legal scholars and government insiders decried her move as not only illegal but also emblematic of institutional overreach and personal vendetta. Even more damning, during court proceedings, government lawyers representing the IGG admitted they lacked evidence tying Mugaino to criminal wrongdoing—a major blow to Kamya’s crusade.
From Lands to IGG-Kamya’s tumultuous path
Kamya was transferred from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to the IGG’s office in 2021, following a string of controversies. Her tenure at Lands was riddled with accusations of politicizing title transactions, overriding technocrats, and micromanaging sensitive registries. It was believed her reassignment was meant to contain rather than promote her.
However, Kamya appears to have carried the same combative style to the Inspectorate, where instead of acting as a neutral anti-corruption czar, she often found herself mired in political feuds, alleged institutional bullying, and accusations of weaponizing investigations.
Now, as her contract draws to a close, Kamya finds herself with few allies, a tarnished legacy, and facing possible legal scrutiny if calls to probe her conduct gain momentum.
Her dramatic fall from grace underscores the growing tension between personal ambition and institutional integrity—especially in high-stakes corruption investigations where politics, power, and public interest collide. Just watch the space…. Don’t worry😉, be happy 😊
