Four Mbale district officials charged with abuse of office
They were charged before the Anti-Corruption Court over allegations of unlawfully charging school fees under the government's Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme and remanded.
The trio appeared before Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate Paul Mujuni and denied the charges. (Courtesy photos)
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Four Mbale district local government officials were on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court following their arrest during the "Expose the Corrupt" campaign led by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara.
They were charged before the Anti-Corruption Court over allegations of unlawfully charging school fees under the government's Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme and remanded.
This followed their arrest by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) working together with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director Public Prosecution.
The accused are; Betty Nabiryo Wamanga, 42, the head teacher of Nabumali Secondary School and a resident of Munkaga, Bungokho Mafutu in Mbale District; Sam Paddy Khaukha, 55, the Mbale District Education Officer and a resident of Busiu Town Council, Mbale District; and Asadi Walufu, the District Inspector of Schools and a resident of Wanyera Cell, Maluku Ward, Mbale District. Also charged was Dr Jonathan Wangisi, the District Health Officer (DHO).
Nabiryo faces one count of abuse of office contrary to Section 10(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap. 116 of the Laws of Uganda, 2023.
The prosecution alleges that during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years, while serving as head teacher of Nabumali Secondary School, she abused the authority of her office by arbitrarily charging students additional fees contrary to the Education Act and the Universal Secondary Education (USE) Policy Guidelines. Prosecutors contend that the alleged conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the Mbale District Local Government.
Khaukha and Walufu are jointly charged with corruption by neglect of duty contrary to Section 2(i) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap. 116 of the Laws of Uganda, 2023.
According to the prosecution, the two officials failed to perform their statutory responsibilities of monitoring and inspecting schools in Mbale District, thereby allowing the continued alleged unlawful collection of extra fees from students at Nabumali Secondary School.
The trio appeared before Anti-Corruption Court Principal Magistrate Paul Mujuni and denied the charges.
State prosecutor Raymond Mugisha informed the court that investigations are at an advanced stage and sought an adjournment to allow them to complete the inquiries.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Mujuni adjourned the matter to August 6, 2026, when the court is expected to hear the accused's bail application.
Under the Anti-Corruption Act, a person convicted of abuse of office is liable to a fine not exceeding 240 currency points, imprisonment for up to 12 years, or both. The offence of corruption by neglect of duty carries the same maximum penalty upon conviction.
Meanwhile, Dr Wangisi was charged with Abuse of Office and Corruption through Neglect of Duty and was remanded until 4 August 2026. Prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2024, Dr. Wangisi, while serving as District Health Officer for Mbale District Local Government, allegedly abused his office by irregularly transferring health workers from various health centres to Busia Health Centre IV without consulting or obtaining approval from the Chief Administrative Officer, contrary to the established procedures governing staff deployment. The transfers reportedly left the affected health facilities understaffed, disrupting healthcare service delivery.
SHACU, in a statement, stated that Dr. Wangisi, “is also accused of neglecting his statutory duties as DHO, including assessing staffing needs, monitoring leave schedules, and coordinating the deployment of health workers across the district, which further worsened the staffing shortages.”
The four officials join four others who were recently interdicted. The Local Government ministry Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, in a letter dated July 22, 2026, directed the Mbale City Town Clerk, Assy Abirebe Tumwesigire, to immediately interdict the four officials over gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources, and possible financial impropriety, which had greatly compromised services in the district.
The interdiction came in the wake of a public bazaar that minister Barugahara held in Mbale City on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in which local residents complained about lack of service delivery.
Those affected officials include: Principal Civil Engineer Edson Kasaata; Principal Health Officer (Environmental Health) Charles Wandera; Senior Civil Engineer Anthony Wanasolo; and Senior Physical Planner Fred Nambafu. Kasaata’s interdiction comes at a point when he had been left with only one month to retire.