Four Mbale district officials interdicted over corruption
Accordingly, Kumumanya said it has been decided that the officers mentioned be interdicted with immediate effect to pave way for investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant Government agencies.
The Local Government ministry Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya. (File photo)
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The Local Government Ministry Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, has directed the Mbale City Town Clerk to immediately interdict four senior officials who were implicated in gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources, and possible financial impropriety, which have greatly compromised services in the district.
The interdiction comes in the wake of a public bazaar that Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara held in Mbale City on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in which local residents complained about lack of service delivery.
Those affected include: Principal Civil Engineer Edson Kasaata; Principal Health Officer (Environmental Health) Charles Wandera; Senior Civil Engineer Anthony Wanasolo; and Senior Physical Planner Fred Nambafu.
“As you are aware, the Minister of Local Government convened a meeting in Mbale district and a number of issues were raised against the above officers. The issues raised in the meeting included gross negligence of duty, abuse of office, mismanagement of public resources, and possible financial impropriety, among others, which have greatly compromised services in the district,” Kumumanya said.
Accordingly, Kumumanya said it has been decided that the officers mentioned be interdicted with immediate effect to pave way for investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant Government agencies.
"In line with the above, this is to instruct you to interdict the mentioned officers with immediate effect as stipulated under Section (f-s) 14 of the Public Service Standing Orders,2021,” Kumumanya directed the Mbale City Town Clerk.
The four officials now join the Water Engineer of Mbale District, Eng. Simon Peter Wandera, who was on Sunday, July 19, 2026, detained at the Mbale Central Police Station following the opening of a case GEF: 09/2026 over alleged mismanagement of the Buyobo-Bubyangu Gravity Flow Scheme in Mbale.
Barugahara, in a statement released on Sunday evening, said the project was funded to the tune of sh2.2b by President Yoweri Museveni, with the objective of providing clean and free piped water from the Elgon Mountains to rural communities in the area.
“It is regrettable that all connected public taps are dry despite the massive investment intended to serve the people. All contractors are hereby put on notice to desist from substandard work. Government projects must meet the required standards and deliver real value to Ugandans,” the minister noted.
Several other district officials have also been arrested over misuse of government funds and charged.
On Friday, July 16, 2026, Eng. Paul Walimbwa, the Bulambuli district engineer, and Dr Richard Mulongo, the district health officer, were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala on charges of abuse of office, causing financial loss, and neglect of duty resulting in the loss of public funds.
Investigations revealed that Eng. Walimbwa, while serving as district engineer during the financial year 2021/2022, allegedly abused his office by directing the supply of door frames and window casements in quantities exceeding those required and authorised for the construction of the Bulambuli district administration block.
It is alleged that he bypassed the prescribed procurement procedures and failed to obtain the necessary approvals, resulting in a financial loss to the Government of more than sh20 million.
Eng. Walimbwa is also under separate investigation over the alleged misappropriation of the sh1 billion road project in Bulambuli district.
Preliminary findings from the Ministry of Works and Transport's Mbale Regional Materials Laboratory indicate that garden soil was allegedly used on Kimulu-Tunyi Road instead of the approved gravel and murram. Investigations are still ongoing.
On the other hand, Mulongo was charged with abuse of office, causing financial loss, and negligence leading to loss of public funds. Investigations revealed that while serving as a senior medical officer in charge of Muyembe Health Centre IV during the financial year 2021/2022, Mulongo allegedly irregularly oversaw the construction of a pit latrine in contravention of the approved standards and procedures for health facilities.
It is further alleged that he requisitioned sh7 million for the construction, despite the works not meeting the required standards. As a result, the pit latrine has never become operational since its construction, leading to the loss of public funds intended to improve healthcare service delivery.
A statement released by SHACU indicated that the arrest of the two officials formed part of the ongoing nationwide anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by Minister Barugahara to expose and hold corrupt officials in local governments accountable.