By Spy Uganda
Authorities have arrested several senior officials in Mitooma District over allegations of selling government jobs and extorting money from applicants during recent local government recruitment exercises.
The arrests were carried out on Thursday afternoon by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force.
Among those arrested are the district’s Chief Administrative Officer, Joanita Nakityo; District Health Officer Sadic Mugisha; Chairperson of the District Service Commission Sam Karakuza Tugume; and Senior Education Officer Richard Nabimanya. Authorities say additional suspects remain at large.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Nakityo allegedly interfered with the work of the District Service Commission by taking over key responsibilities, including scheduling interviews and selecting technical advisers for the recruitment process. She is also accused of influencing the scoring of candidates through the commission chairperson.
Investigators further allege that Tugume extorted between UGX 7 million and UGX 25 million from at least 23 job applicants, promising them positions in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
The District Health Officer, Mugisha, is accused of engaging in influence peddling to ensure certain candidates were shortlisted and awarded unusually high interview scores. According to investigators, two candidates reportedly received 48 out of 50 marks. He is also alleged to have leaked interview questions and answers to selected applicants to give them an unfair advantage.
Meanwhile, Nabimanya allegedly contacted the District Service Commission chairperson to secure favorable interview assessments for some candidates applying for education-related positions.
Authorities say another suspect, Esther Owarimpa—a parish chief and LC3 councillor in Kashenshero Sub-county—remains on the run. She is suspected of extorting money from job seekers while falsely promising them government employment.
The anti-corruption unit said investigations are ongoing and that corruption-related charges are expected to be filed against the suspects in the coming days.
Officials have urged members of the public to report any incidents of bribery or extortion during recruitment processes to the relevant authorities.
