Minister Balaam orders arrest of 12 Masindi civil servants
They are accused of overrating the construction of a classroom block at Kamurasi Primary School in Masindi Municipality, which was constructed in the 2025/26 financial year, claiming it cost sh120m despite using iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister and showing no value for money.
Minister Balaam with Masindi’s security team at Kamirasi Primary School. (Photo: Yosam Gucwaki)
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The Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has ordered the immediate arrest and interdiction of 12 civil servants from Masindi District and Municipality over various corruption allegations.
From Masindi Municipality, those implicated include Sam Peter Ayebale, the Principal Education Officer, and John Kasaija, the Municipal Engineer.
They are accused of overrating the construction of a classroom block at Kamurasi Primary School in Masindi Municipality, which was constructed in the 2025/26 financial year, claiming it cost sh120m despite using iron sheets from the Office of the Prime Minister and showing no value for money.
Robert Magezi, the Engineer in charge of housing, was also arrested for poor quality work at Kibwona Health Centre II.
Others arrested include Alfred Ochen, the acting District Engineer, over alleged negligence and inadequate supervision of the construction of St. Andrea Seed Secondary School Labongo.
Joseph Sunday, the District Supervisor of Works, faces allegations of hiring a district grader to a private investor.
Fred Ssebuguzi, the District Veterinary Officer, who is also the former acting District Production Officer, is accused of spending sh110m towards the construction of irrigation systems for farmers under the micro-scale irrigation project, which were found substandard.
"I want Ssebuguzi to account for the sh110m for the micro-scale irrigation scheme because some systems constructed are substandard and failed to work," Barugahara stated.
The former Chairperson of the District Service Commission, Benjamin Byarugaba, and Angela Nyandera, the Secretary to the Service Commission, are facing allegations of selling jobs.
"These individuals caused significant losses to the Government of Uganda by failing many recruitments, leading to money being returned to the central government. They have been extorting money and also failed to promote staff members because they weren't given money," said the minister.
Minister Balaam listens to Rogers Amanyire, the Mayor of Masindi Municipality. (Photo: Yosam Gucwaki)
The District Commercial Officer is also to be arrested for allegedly colluding with an individual to buy land belonging to Akumulikire Farmers' Cooperative, which has squatters.
"I am ordering his arrest for also failing to supervise Emyooga SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations). How can the district have 54 Emyooga SACCOs, with 21 inactive, even after receiving money?" he wondered.
Godfrey Mirimo, the Acting Principal Medical Officer for Masindi Municipality, faces arrest and interdiction for failing to adequately supervise construction works at various health centers.
Furthermore, the minister directed that Daniel Kasala, the former Town Clerk of Masindi Municipality, be recalled for allowing the construction of an administration block without proper procurement procedures.
"I want this town clerk to be recalled from wherever he is. I want the Town Clerk Kasala and the Municipal Engineer Kasaija to account for sh383m so far spent on this project," he said.
George Ochanga, the Parish Development Model (PDM) SACCO Chairperson of Kimanya Parish in Nyantonzi sub-county, also faces arrest for allegedly extorting money from PDM beneficiaries.
During a meeting with district and municipality leaders at the district chambers on October 7, 2026, Minister Barugahara pardoned Monica Kiiza, the Acting District Education Officer, who admitted to inflating pupil numbers in different primary schools.
It was discovered that 207 more pupils were added to the list of learners at Kinkingura Primary School, 16 more at Kinyara primary, and 142 at St. Mary's Kyatiri.
He further ordered his technical people at the ministry of local government to prioritise the construction of a fully-fledged administration block.
He also clarified that government-aided schools should continue charging parents some money to supplement government grants, but it should not exceed sh40,000 for primary schools and sh100,000 for secondary schools.
"But you should ensure that there's proper accountability for this money collected from the parents," he advised.
The minister ordered the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the police to ensure that all individuals mentioned are arrested and their statements recorded, and that thorough investigations be done.
After the meeting, Minister Barugahara toured Kamurasi Primary School, where the sh120m classroom block showed no value for money.
He also visited Kirasa Market, which has issues concerning the allocation of stalls, with some individuals claiming to have paid but not received their stalls.
He also visited Masindi Hospital and Masindi Secondary School.
Consequently, the Minister ordered the arrest of Gilbert Wanok, the Local Council One Secretary for Kirasa cell in Central division, who was involved in the allocation of stalls.
He faulted Masindi leaders for not exposing corruption, expressing his displeasure at them covering for individuals hindering service delivery.
Some leaders raised concerns, including the National Forestry Authority's frequent shifting of their boundary mark stones, the need for upgrading different health centers, and increasing corruption at Masindi Court.
By the time of filing this story, the Minister was heading to Kabango Town Council for a public rally.