By Spy Uganda
The ongoing investigations into government payroll fraud have taken a new twist as former Makerere University Business School (MUBS) principal, Prof. Wasswa Balunywa, becomes one of the most high-profile figures to face charges in the Anti-Corruption Court.
Balunywa, 68, is expected in court today, September 2, 2025, to answer two counts of abuse of office. He is accused of illegally recruiting three administrative assistants without the required qualifications, thereby exposing the Government to unnecessary costs. His co-accused, Jacqueline Namaganda, the institution’s former acting human resource director, faces charges of neglect of duty and is currently out on bail.
Their case is part of a sweeping investigation that has implicated more than 30 government officials across various agencies, including the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and the Uganda Police Force. The probe by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) links the officials to a payroll racket that allegedly cost the government over Shs53 billion through ghost workers and irregular recruitment.
So far, 15 suspects have been arraigned, with many remanded at Luzira Prison, while others await trial. The arrests signal a tightening of the noose against public officials accused of diverting state resources through fraudulent employment practices.
Observers say the prosecution of senior figures like Prof. Balunywa underscores the government’s renewed resolve to combat systemic graft in public institutions. “This is a message that no official, however senior, is beyond scrutiny,” a legal analyst noted.
If convicted, Balunywa faces up to seven years in prison under the Anti-Corruption Act. The unfolding case is expected to set a precedent for other pending corruption trials as authorities intensify efforts to plug financial leakages in the public service.
