Eight senior staff of Namitooma District have been interdicted following a visit by the Local Government Minister, Mr Balam Barugahara, over numerous allegations of corruption and incompetence in the area.
On Saturday, August 8th, Namitooma District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Masereka Amis Asuman, submitted a list of the affected staff to the Permanent Staff of the Ministry of Local Government, notifying them of the decision.
The affected staff include: Dr Sadic Byamugisha, the District Health Officer; Barungi Peace Gloria, the District Education Officer; Eng Godfrey Tumusiime, the Civil Engineer (Water); and Godwin Kagumir, the Senior Environment Officer.
Others are; Vincent Rugamba, the Senior Assistant Secretary, Godfrey Mugumya, a driver, Dr Patrick Oloya, a Medical Officer and John Baptist Tumwebaze, the Senior Engineer/ Ag. District Engineer.
”As a result of various complaints, I was directed to interdict the following staff with immediate effect to pave way for investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and other relevant Government Agencies.” The letter signed by the CAO read in part.
The decision followed a meeting held by Minister Balam and stakeholders at Namitooma District Council Hall on strengthening accountability, enhancing transparency, improving service delivery and fostering the fight against corruption.
The staff, according to the letter, have been interdicted for six months in line with Section (F-s) of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021.
Key provisions under interdiction
Under interdiction, a staff member is put under temporary suspension, and this formally halts an officer from exercising their office duties or reporting to the workplace pending the conclusion of investigations.
During suspension period, the interdicted officer is entitled to receive one-half (50%) of their basic monthly salary during the suspension period.
Interdiction also prohibits the affected officer from leaving the country or the designated jurisdiction without explicit prior permission from a competent authority.
Likewise, under interdiction, the staff is restricted from visiting their work premises or office bounds unless formally summoned or authorised by the accounting officer.
The Local Government Minister, together with his assistant, Ms Justine Nameere, are conducting high-profile anti-corruption inspection tours across various Ugandan districts to crack down on the misuse of public funds, ghost workers, and poor service delivery.
These impromptu visits have led to arrests of district officials, closure of substandard facilities, and orders for major investigations.
Inspected areas
In Ankole region (Mbarara and Isingiro), the Minister investigated mismanaged city resources, controversial infrastructure, and ordered the interdiction of the Isingiro Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) over missing road funds.
In Bugisu region (Mbale and Bulambuli), he uncovered ghost staff at Busiu Health Centre IV and exposed a poorly constructed public toilet costing Shs73 million that lacked an actual pit latrine beneath it, whereas in Namisindwa District, he ordered a temporary closure and investigation of Namisindwa Secondary School due to severe sanitation issues and severe toilet shortages for over 550 students.
In Buhweju District, the Minister demanded formal investigations by anti-corruption security agencies into top officials over the alleged mismanagement of Shs5 billion allocated for road maintenance.