Four Fort Portal City Council employees have today been remanded to the Katojo government prison in the Kabarole district.

The employees were on Monday arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit in liaison with the Police.

The accused persons: acting deputy city clerk Richard Kagaba Ndora, senior assistant secretary Susan Kyomuhendo, internal auditor Kihunde Sylvia and office assistant Ben Mutooro Musinguzi on Tuesday afternoon appeared before the Fort Portal Chief Magistrate Moses Nabende Mushebebe.

Nabende read to the accused persons a total of 49 counts that ranged from abuse of office and forgery of official documents contrary to sections 342 and 349 of the Penal Code Act.

“In July 2023, the accused without clearance from public service forged and issued appointment letters to 23 applicants, which were backdated to June 29 to defeat a circular dated June 30, 2023, by the Ministry of Public Service which halted all recruitments without clearance” reads part of the charge sheet.

Court also heard that the accused persons disregarded several circulars earlier issued by the Ministry of Public Service and Public Service Commission guiding the irregular recruitment.

All the accused denied all the charges leveled against them.

Through their lawyer, Charles Musinguzi, the accused persons applied for bail which was later challenged by Josephine Aryong who represented the state attorney on grounds that she had not yet fully read the case files of the accused.

Magistrate Nabende remanded the accused until August 14, 2023, when they will reappear for mention of their bail application.