By The dramatic arrest and remand of top officials in Mpigi District this week has spotlighted the growing abuse of public office in Uganda’s local government structures and how the President’s intervention is now forcing long-silenced grievances into the open.
Just days after President Yoweri Museveni, during his June 17 monitoring tour for the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Greater Mpigi, received complaints of job-selling in the district, the long-standing allegations materialized into legal action.
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Mpigi District Chairperson Martine Ssejjemba, Service Commission Chairperson Fredrick Kirumira, and Secretary Sarah Nakamoga now face charges of soliciting and receiving bribes from job applicants — with figures ranging from UGX 50,000 to UGX 15 million for positions in the local government structure.
Sources close to the investigation indicate the President’s directive to Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, was clear: root out and publicly expose officials exploiting unemployed citizens under the guise of service delivery.
Analysts believe this case has redefined how corruption is being tackled — shifting from slow, bureaucratic processes to direct executive-led action. “This marks a turning point,” said a political governance expert in Kampala. “The President is now responding to corruption with field-based verification, and those implicated are being exposed without delay.”
The case has caused ripples not just in Mpigi but across districts where similar practices are allegedly ongoing. Already, whispers of job racketeering are emerging in Masaka, Wakiso, and Lira — with several whistleblowers reportedly coming forward after the Mpigi arrests.
For many in Mpigi, the scandal has been long overdue for exposure. “These officials have turned our district offices into auction houses,” lamented a local teacher who said he failed to get a promotion despite meeting all requirements.
Observers believe the real test now lies ahead in how the courts handle the matter, whether refunds will be made to the affected job applicants, and how national agencies such as the Public Service Commission will reform recruitment supervision.
The accused trio remains remanded until July 8, 2025, when the court is expected to hear their bail application. However, the political and public fallout from the case is only beginning to unfold. As one resident put it: “The arrests are good, but we need assurance this won’t end as another headline with no systemic change.”
