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Power Minister Seeks EFCC Action On Vandalism, Energy Theft

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, on Tuesday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tackle the growing cases of vandalism and energy theft in the power sector.

Tegbe also lamented that some companies with access to electricity fail to pay their bills, saying the country loses billions of naira annually as a result.

The minister made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

Daily Trust reports that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) have repeatedly raised concerns over the destruction of electricity poles, theft of cables and other critical power infrastructure.

Tegbe said the Ministry of Power lacked the statutory powers to prosecute offenders involved in vandalism and energy theft.

The minister said tackling the problem required stronger collaboration among relevant government agencies to protect power infrastructure and ensure that consumers who receive electricity pay for the service.

He also called for closer cooperation between the ministry and the EFCC to strengthen enforcement and reduce financial losses in the sector.

The minister declared that he was fully in support of the commission’s steps in investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities involved in economic crimes undermining the power sector.

Reacting to the Minister’s demand, Olukoyede described vandalism and energy theft as revenue fraud and ‘major concerns and acts of economic sabotage’, pledging the commission’s collaboration with the ministry.

He also pledged to work with the ministry by instituting Fraud Risk Assessment and Control on all their projects.

11 women contesting for National Assembly seats in Edo

A total of 11 women from various political parties are contesting next year’s National Assembly election in Edo State.

Five women are contesting the Senate, while six are seeking election to the House of Representatives.

Only two women, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion and Senator Daisy Danjuma, have won elections to the National Assembly in Edo State since 1999.

Senator Danjuma represented Edo South from 2003 to 2007, while Hon. Igbinedion currently represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The political parties that fielded women in Edo State for the House of Representatives are the Labour Party, which fielded Eragbe Abimbola for Akoko-Edo; the Peoples Democratic Party, which fielded Jemitola Aanena; the LP, which also presented Momodu Abietu for Estako Federal Constituency; the All Progressives Congress (APC), which presented Omosede Igbinedion for Ovia Federal Constituency; the Zenith Labour Party, which fielded Akpoghomhe Patience for Estako Federal Constituency; and the African Democratic Party, which presented Obazee Ramatu for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency.

In the senatorial election, the women fielded are Epelle Asemota Osayuki by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC); Mrs Adudu Evelyn Omonigho (APM) for Edo North; and Hon. Herbetha Okonofua for the African Democratic Congress for Edo Central.

Others are Adudu Evelyn Omonigho, presented by the Allied Peoples Movement for Edo Central; Ekhorutomwen Osarenoma, running under the African Democratic Party for Edo South; and Oisayemoje Evuarherhe of the NDC for Edo North.

Only Hon. Igbinedion has won election twice to the House of Representatives among the 11 women.

Others who have contested the election and lost are Okonofua and Osayuki.

Finance ministry unveils new audit guide to strengthen oversight of public funds

The Ministry of Finance is preparing and improving various audit guidelines to strengthen the implementation of auditing duties and improve efficiency in government auditing.

The ministry made the statement on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that the effort aims to strengthen the protection of public funds and support the country’s economic growth.

Acting government internal auditor general at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Kenneth Nindie, made the statement when opening training on the Government Information Systems Audit Manual for government internal auditors in Dodoma. He noted that the manual covers different stages of the auditing process, with some sections undergoing verification before being fully implemented.

“We are taking some sections for verification because it is important to review and validate these guidelines before they are fully put into use,” said Mr Nindie.

He explained that the process will ensure the guidelines are of high quality, easy to understand, and useful to auditors in carrying out their responsibilities.

The ministry’s focus on audit guidelines comes as government institutions increasingly rely on information systems to carry out operations.

This shift has heightened the importance of strengthening auditors’ capacity to examine such systems and identify areas that may affect the efficiency and control of public resources.

Mr Nindie also underscored the importance of professional certification among government employees.

“Having professional certification has become an important part of our plans to strengthen the capacity of employees,” he said, noting that a programme introduced in 2021 sought to increase the number of certified staff.

He added that continued investment in employee skills and professional development is vital for improving performance and ensuring institutional responsibilities meet required standards.

The two-day training was organised by the Ministry of Finance through the Internal Auditor General’s Department.

It brought together internal auditors from public institutions and the Ministry of Finance to enhance their understanding of information systems auditing and the application of relevant guidelines.

Nigeria’s Disturbing Organ Trade

The disturbing reports of kidney harvesting and organ trafficking particularly around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and neighbouring Nasarawa State is a sad reflection on the broader failures in public health infrastructure and oversight functions in Nigeria. This illicit business involves private hospitals working with network of agents who recruit vulnerable young people often from low-income satellite communities to either deceptively harvest or get them sell their kidneys.

In a case which gained attention lately, a young man discovered a missing kidney after a procedure. On August 9, 2026, operatives of Nigeria Police Force’s Special Tactical Squad arrested four suspects in Auta Balefi, Karu LGA, Nasarawa State. The four include an alleged recruiter and medical doctors linked to a hospital at Life Camp, Abuja. Police said one of them has already confessed to luring a 22-year-old to the hospital in April 2026 where a kidney was harvested for about N1.7 million. Another alleged victim from 2022 reportedly received N7 million.

But it was a three-month undercover investigation by Daily Trust titled ‘Inside Abuja’s Kidney ‘Market’ Where The Rich Prey On The Poor’ that exposed the shadow economy of illegal organ trafficking operating in the FCT and the neighbouring Nasarawa State communities of Mararaba and Masaka.

This inhuman trade is widespread because the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses exacerbates kidney diseases which drives replacement therapy.

A 2025 review reported that approximately 11 per cent to 19 per cent of adults in Nigeria live with chronic kidney disease (CKD), meaning roughly one in every seven to eight people is affected. Studies and reviews show higher rates are often observed among older adults and females. Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that 674 million people are living with chronic kidney disease, with most affected people in low- and middle-income countries.

Between 2015 and 2020, data presented by medical experts indicates that at least 651 kidneys were trafficked and illegally transplanted in Nigeria. Globally, it is estimated that thousands of kidneys are sold illegally around the world every year. Reports indicate that individual kidneys in the underground Nigerian market have been sold for amounts from N1 million (in low-income targeted recruitment) up to N7 million for direct donors, while being resold downstream sometimes for foreign patients for between N50 million to N70 million.

Largely, the fertile ground for this is effectuated by lack of functional organ banks, absence of deceased (cadaveric) donation programmes, and weak enforcement of the National Health Act of 2014 which was meant to regulate organ donation and transplantation in the country. Yet, this is a dangerous business that is not excusable under any circumstances.

Daily Trust calls for immediate and full implementation of all provisions of the National Health Act especially the areas that address consent, commercial trade, and authorisation. In fact, Section 48 of the Act on Informed Consent mandates that tissue or organs (including kidneys) can only be removed from a living person with the appropriate informed consent of the donor. The law also strictly prohibits the sale, buying, or commercial trade of human organs and tissues for financial gain, while requiring that transplant and removal procedures take place only in authorised hospitals or health facilities by registered medical practitioners. Recent reports underscore the failure to implement stronger regulation and enforcement of transplant standards as specified in the Act.

We hereby urge the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to treat organ commercialism as an issue of critical national concern by enforcing Section 20 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 which gives it the statutory power to investigate, arrest, and prosecute networks involved in human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal.

It should collaborate closely with the Police to track and dismantle organ harvesting syndicates while working with parental and youth groups in helping their members in looking out for fraudulent employment or educational offers that act as fronts for organ harvesting.

We also urge NAPTIP to lead in sustained undercover operations against perpetrators while ensuring rapid response to reported cases and prosecution of traffickers, medical facilitators and others involved in the abominable business. All perpetrators must face the law to serve as deterrent to others.

Moreover, there should be expansion of access to early prevention and treatment of kidney diseases through ensuring a transparent national transplant register and waiting lists in order to ensure that legitimate needs are met through ethical channels rather than the illegal black market. We also urge the implementation of enlightenment campaigns using mainstream and social media, community, religious and traditional leaders towards creating awareness on the evils of organ harvesting. We implore credible NGOs and advocacy groups to increase their focus on anti-trafficking and organ ethical standards.

Government should also increase access to poverty alleviation measures and creation of social safety nets which will reduce the number of people who may be tempted to sell their organs for survival. We insist that the wrongful practices of underground medical black market organ trafficking must stop.

East Africa horticulture sector to tackle trade, logistics barriers in Nairobi

Eastern Africa’s horticulture sector is set to convene in Nairobi next week to address trade and logistics challenges affecting the movement of produce across the region and into international markets, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

The Regional Public-Private Dialogue on Horticultural Logistics and Trade Facilitation, scheduled for September 22 and 23, 2026 will bring together government representatives, industry players, development partners and other stakeholders from across the horticulture value chain, the statement said.

The meeting will also mark the formal launch of the Horticulture Council of Eastern Africa (HoCEA), a private-sector-led regional platform established to strengthen coordination, advocacy and market access for the sector. According to the statement, horticultural producers and exporters continue to face high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, weak first mile aggregation systems, fragmented digital trade processes and delays at ports and borders.

It also cited inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and certification procedures, as well as limited use of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), among the challenges affecting the sector.

‘These challenges include high freight costs, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, weak first-mile aggregation systems, fragmented digital trade processes, delays at ports and borders, inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and certification procedures, and limited utilisation of opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),’ said Dr Jacqueline Mkindi, interim chairperson of HoCEA and Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA).

The statement said the challenges affect not only large exporters but also smallholder farmers, women, young people, small and medium-sized enterprises, logistics providers and national horticulture associations.

The two-day dialogue will focus on four areas: trade logistics and cold-chain systems; digital trade and smart corridors; SPS measures and non-tariff barriers; and AfCFTA market access and implementation.

The organisers said the first day would focus on identifying and validating key constraints facing the sector, including potential investments and interventions, while the second would seek to translate the discussions into policy and investment commitments.

The meeting is expected to produce a Nairobi Communiqué outlining priority actions, responsible institutions and proposed timelines for implementation, according to the statement.

Dr Mkindi said the process was intended to improve cooperation between governments, industry and regional institutions in addressing challenges that individual businesses or countries could not resolve on their own.

‘The process is intended to strengthen collaboration between government, industry and regional institutions and create clearer pathways for addressing challenges that cannot be resolved by individual businesses or countries acting alone,’ she said.

The statement said HoCEA would bring together national horticulture associations across Eastern Africa and provide a regional platform for the sector to engage policymakers and other stakeholders on issues affecting horticultural trade and investment.

TradeMark Africa (TMA), which is supporting the council’s work, said its broader focus was on reducing trade barriers and improving the efficiency of cross-border trade through policy, infrastructure, standards and digital systems.

The Nairobi dialogue comes as horticultural producers and exporters face growing pressure to reduce trading costs, improve logistics and meet changing market and certification requirements.

The organisers said the meeting would seek to establish clear priorities, responsibilities and follow-up actions for improving the movement of horticultural products from farms to markets across Eastern Africa.

Co-op Bank, NCBA join Pesalink money transfer fee cuts in retail battle

Co-operative Bank and NCBA have joined other major lenders that have rolled out free transfers of up to Sh1,000 and a flat charge of Sh20 on larger Pesalink transactions, fuelling the race for retail payment deals.

The two lenders join KCB Bank Kenya, Diamond Trust Bank, Absa Bank Kenya, Stanbic Bank Kenya and Prime Bank in adopting the new tariff that looks set to capture a bigger share of person-to-person payments.

Other institutions offering the reduced Pesalink charges are UBA Kenya, Commercial International Bank, HFCB, Victoria Commercial Bank, Access Bank Kenya, Citibank N.A Kenya, Faulu Microfinance Bank, GT Bank, SBM Bank, Paramount Bank, Credit Bank, Ecobank Kenya, Bank of Baroda, Choice Bank and Caritas Microfinance Bank.

The discounted tariff gives customers free transfers of up to Sh1,000, while transactions above Sh1,000 and up to Sh999,999 attract a flat Sh20 fee, regardless of the amount transferred.

‘Co-op Bank has now reduced Pesalink transfer charges to a flat rate of Sh20 for transactions above Sh1,000 up to Sh999,999. Take advantage of this rate and use Pesalink for more savings,’ Co-op said in a communication to customers.

Other new adopters are National Bank of Kenya, African Banking Corporation and Consolidated Bank of Kenya, adding to the growing list of lenders offering cheaper bank-to-bank transfers.

The pricing represents a significant discount from the tiered charges of up to Sh250 that customers have traditionally paid for Pesalink transfers.

The new model is part of the ‘Tuma Direct na Mbao’ initiative, which seeks to make bank-based transfers more attractive at a time when lenders are competing with mobile money platforms for everyday payments.

NCBA Group Director of Retail Banking Dennis Njau said the switch to a new tariff is part of the effort to make banking ‘simpler, more affordable and more relevant to customers’ everyday lives.’

‘The revised Pesalink pricing reflects our commitment to empowering customers with transparent and cost-effective digital payment solutions. Whether someone is sending a small amount to a loved one or making a larger business payment, they can now transact with greater confidence, knowing exactly what the transfer will cost,’ said Mr Njau.

The number of banks and microfinance institutions that have cut prices has risen from under 10 in February, highlighting growing industry interest in using lower transaction costs to drive digital payment volumes.

The latest expansion of firms on the discounted Pesalink tariff increases pressure on banks that have yet to adopt the model to review their transfer charges.

The pricing initiative looks set to strengthen the competitiveness of bank-based payments against mobile money, which has dominated person-to-person transactions because of its convenience and widespread acceptance.

Pesalink is also seeking to simplify bank transfers by moving towards identifiers such as mobile phone numbers and identity card numbers instead of bank account details.

CETA bill may raise consumer prices without clear health gains, ThinkBusiness Africa warns

ThinkBusiness Africa has called for a more evidence-based assessment of Nigeria’s proposed amendment to the Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. (Consolidation) Act, warning that a substantial increase in the tax burden on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) could raise consumer prices and production costs without delivering commensurate public health outcomes.

The call followed the release earlier in the week of a new policy report by the Lagos-based policy and investor-relations firm, titled ‘Nigeria’s CETA Bill, Fiscal Policy, and Health Outcomes.’

The report examines the proposed amendment to the CETA Act, which the Senate passed on third reading on June 4, 2026, and is awaiting consideration by the House of Representatives. The Senate-approved framework replaces the existing ?10-per-litre excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages with a levy linked to retail prices, with the Minister of Finance to determine the applicable rate.

ThinkBusiness Africa said the proposed change represents a significant shift in both the structure and potential scale of SSB taxation and should therefore be assessed against Nigeria’s wider fiscal, economic and public health objectives.

The firm acknowledged the growing concern over non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, obesity and hypertension, but argued that the evidence on SSB taxation requires a more nuanced assessment.

According to the report, available evidence indicates that higher taxes can reduce purchases of taxed beverages, but the extent to which such taxes directly translate into reductions in obesity, diabetes and hypertension is less conclusive.

‘Reducing purchases is not the same as reducing obesity, diabetes or hypertension,’ the report stated, noting that chronic diseases are influenced by multiple factors, including overall diet, physical activity, income, education, access to healthcare and broader living conditions.

ThinkBusiness Africa said policymakers should therefore distinguish between the immediate behavioural effect of taxation and longer-term population health outcomes when evaluating the proposed reform.

The report also raised concerns about the timing of the proposed reform, given the economic pressures already facing Nigerian households and businesses. It noted that high inflation, elevated production costs, foreign-exchange pressures and weakened purchasing power have increased the cost of doing business and placed additional pressure on household incomes.

Against this backdrop, the firm argued that a significantly higher tax burden on beverages could feed through to retail prices and increase costs across the wider value chain, including manufacturing, agriculture, sugar supply, packaging, logistics, transportation, distribution and retail.

The report cited an estimate by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria that approximately 1.5 million jobs depend directly or indirectly on the beverage sector. It also referenced data from the National Sugar Development Council showing that total sugar consumption declined from about 1.72 million tonnes in 2022 to 1.44 million tonnes in 2023, while domestic sugar production fell from approximately 46,479 tonnes to 30,053 tonnes over the same period.

ThinkBusiness Africa stressed that the declines cannot be attributed solely to the existing SSB levy, but said they illustrate the broader pressures confronting the sugar and beverage value chain.

The report further referenced modelling by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, cited in a Manufacturers Association of Nigeria submission, which estimated that a ?130-per-litre tax scenario could increase retail prices by about 39 per cent and reduce annual per-capita consumption by approximately 29 per cent.

The firm cautioned, however, that a decline in purchases of taxed beverages does not necessarily translate into an equivalent reduction in overall sugar consumption, as consumers may substitute other products.

ThinkBusiness Africa urged policymakers to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing SSB levy before introducing a substantially higher tax burden. The review, it said, should examine the revenue generated since the levy was introduced, how the proceeds have been allocated, changes in consumption patterns and any measurable health outcomes associated with the policy.

‘The reform should therefore be assessed not only on its expected revenue and health effects, but also on whether its design is consistent with the wider objective of creating a simpler and more predictable tax system,’ the report stated.

The firm also recommended that policymakers examine alternative approaches, including sugar-content-based taxation, pointing to the United Kingdom as an example of a model designed to incentivise manufacturers to reformulate products and reduce sugar content.

ThinkBusiness Africa said such an approach could potentially align fiscal policy more directly to encourage product reformulation, rather than relying primarily on taxation linked to the retail value of beverages.

The policy firm called for a broader impact assessment before implementation of the proposed reform, covering consumer prices, production, employment, investment, informal-market activity, consumption patterns and government revenue, alongside its potential public health effects.

It also urged policymakers to complement fiscal measures with non-tax interventions, including stronger public health education, nutrition awareness, physical activity programmes, early screening, disease prevention and improved access to primary healthcare.

ThinkBusiness Africa said the objective should be to develop a policy framework that advances public health while also taking account of Nigeria’s manufacturing base, household purchasing power, employment and investment priorities.

Digital ID strengthening Nigeria’s access to Africa’s digital economy – Akume

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said Nigeria’s expanding digital identity infrastructure is strengthening the country’s position in Africa’s digital economy by providing a trusted foundation for banking, telecommunications, social protection and cross-border trade.

Akume also described the progress recorded by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as one of the clearest delivery stories of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, pledging the Federal Government’s full backing for ongoing identity reforms.

The SGF spoke on Wednesday at the National Day of Identity 2026, themed: ‘Nigeria’s Digital Public Ecosystem: Powering Africa’s Digital Economy.’

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Akume said Nigeria’s growing digital public ecosystem has implications beyond the country, as trusted identity infrastructure could help deepen economic integration and facilitate trade across Africa.

He said banks, financial technology companies and cross-border traders increasingly depend on verified digital identities to provide services and access markets, including opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

‘As the officer charged with coordinating government business across MDAs, I have watched this work closely. The National Identity Management Commission is one of this administration’s clearest delivery stories.

‘The progress is real. Enrolment continues to rise. Integration with banking, telecommunications and social protection is deepening. The Commission is meeting the quiet, daily discipline this work requires. That is the kind of delivery this administration was elected to provide’, Akume said.

Akume said the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, had given the country’s identity management system a stronger legal foundation, strengthened data protection and established NIMC as Nigeria’s root certification authority for identity.

He noted that innovations introduced ahead of the new legislation, including NINAuth and self-service data modification, had already made it easier for Nigerians to verify their identities and manage their personal records.

The SGF recalled his engagement with the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, following the passage of the Act, saying the interaction strengthened his confidence in the direction of the Commission and the commitment of its leadership and workforce.

Akume pledged the support of his office for the Commission, stressing that building a reliable national identity system was too important to be left to NIMC alone and required coordinated action across government.

‘This Commission has my backing, and the backing of the office I represent. Wherever closer coordination is needed, and wherever obstacles must be cleared from this Commission’s path, my office stands ready.

‘This project is too important to rest on one agency. It requires the full weight of government’, he said.

Akume also commended President Tinubu for assenting to the NIMC Act, 2026, saying the legislation had provided the modern legal framework needed to sustain the reforms and deepen Nigeria’s digital identity architecture.

He expressed confidence that the reforms would continue to yield measurable results, arguing that every improvement in the country’s identity infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s position in the digital economy while enhancing Africa’s participation in the global digital marketplace.

The SGF said the combination of rising enrolment, deeper integration of identity services across critical sectors and a stronger legal framework had positioned digital identity as an important component of the administration’s wider economic and governance reforms.

Falae: Ondo community has no hiding place for criminals

Chief Olu Falae, the traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has declared that the state has no place for criminals and their collaborators.

Falae, also a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said his community would not harbour, protect, or support criminals whose activities threaten residents’ lives and property.

The monarch spoke on Wednesday while hosting the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oluyemi Ibiloye, at his palace in the Ilu-Abo community.

The Nation reported that the visit was part of an effort to strengthen community-based security initiatives among the various security agencies and traditional rulers.

Speaking, Falae noted that criminals should not be allowed to take advantage of the hospitality and peaceful nature of the people of his community to perpetrate violence and other crimes.

He also explained that the fight against insecurity cannot be left entirely to the government and security agencies, noting that residents play an important role in ensuring their communities remain safe.

‘People should not accommodate criminality. We must work together to ensure that criminals do not find safe havens in our communities,’ Mr Falae said.

Falae said his Ilu-Abo community also remains vigilant and will always resist any attempt by criminal elements to establish a presence or recruit residents into criminal activities.

He also called for stronger collaboration between residents and security agencies, saying timely information could help prevent attacks and protect communities from criminal elements.

The monarch, however, appealed to the people of the state to continue upholding the values of peace, unity, and communal responsibility for which the state is known.

Earlier, Ibiloye briefed the monarch on security agencies’ ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other security threats in Akure North through a non-kinetic approach.

He also emphasised the importance of sustained vigilance, community cooperation, and prompt reporting of suspicious persons, movements, and activities to security agencies.

While highlighting the successes achieved through the Joint Task Force’s collaborative efforts, the Ondo NSCDC Commandant noted that effective community security requires the collective responsibility of all stakeholders.

He stressed that external threats often thrive with the support of internal collaborators.

Ibiloye therefore called on residents to remain security-conscious and provide timely, credible information that could help security agencies prevent crime.

Kisoro police boss arrested over alleged witchcraft rituals at barracks

The officer in charge of Rubuguri Town Council Police Station in Kisoro District has been arrested over alleged irregular and discreditable conduct after reportedly inviting a traditional healer to perform rituals at the newly constructed police station and barracks.

No. 47323 CPL Kutosi Sulaimani, who is the officer in charge of the station, is accused of inviting Veriano Ibanda, a traditional healer, to conduct the rituals at the police facility constructed under the Sub-County Policing Model.

According to preliminary police findings, the Divisional Police Commander in Kisoro received information about the alleged activities and instructed a team of officers to verify the report.

The officers reportedly found Mr Ibanda inside the police barracks and arrested him together with CPL Sulaimani.

Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson SP Nelson Tumusiime confirmed the arrests to this publication on Wednesday and said a disciplinary case had been opened against CPL Sulaimani over alleged irregular and discreditable conduct.

The case was registered at Kisoro Police Station under SD Ref 68/15/9/2026.

Mr Tumusiime said detectives had recorded statements from police officers residing at the Rubuguri barracks as witnesses.

Mr Ibanda was separately arrested and charged with trespass on police barracks under SD Ref 72/15/9/2026.

‘The witch doctor was interviewed and his statement, he claims that he was invited from Kamuli by CPL Kutosi Sulaimani. Exhibits of the herbs were recovered and exhibited,’ SP Tumusiime said.

According to residents of the barracks, Mr Ibanda allegedly conducted traditional rituals at the facility while promising to help residents with their personal problems.

Police said the traditional healer allegedly spent the night in the barracks, in rooms occupied by CPL Sulaimani.

It is also alleged that Mr Ibanda slaughtered a hen from CPL Sulaimani’s room while carrying out what was described as a cleansing ritual at the newly constructed barracks.

Police said investigations into the conduct of the officer and the activities at the barracks were ongoing.