‘Remove RDC Mpimbaza or Lose Obongi to Opposition in 2026’ – LC5 chairman Buga warns Babalanda

Obongi, Uganda:- The enraged Obongi District LC5 Chairman, Mr. Buga Khemis Habib has sent a chilling warning to the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Milly Babalanda, to remove or transfer the embattled Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, or risk severe political consequences for the ruling NRM party ahead of the 2026 general elections.

In a no-holds-barred exclusive interview with DailyExpress, Chairman Buga accused the RDC of launching a divisive anti-corruption campaign that has not only alienated elected leaders and civil servants but also stoked public unrest through what he termed as “deliberate disinformation and misinformation.”

“If Hon. Babalanda contemplates that the comical RDC Mpimbaza is promoting the interests of NRM party in his botched and one-man anti-corruption campaign, we shall request her to manage the campaigns’ for NRM party and President Yoweri Museveni that’s when she will recognize, Obongi has been messed up politically to the full benefits of the opposition political leaders,” said Buga.

The district chair revealed that on January 14, 2025, the district council passed a resolution declaring RDC Mpimbaza persona non grata and petitioned Minister Babalanda to act. However, he expressed disappointment that the Minister did not respond.

“I’m today with dense heart dispensing press statement on behalf of the district council after, the Minister of Presidency refused to respond to the will of the people in Obongi when her attention was drawn to a council resolution in a letter dated January 14, 2025,” Buga bemoaned.

Obongi, which was historically a stronghold of the opposition FDC under former MP Hon. Hassan Fungaro, only swung to NRM in 2021 following a tense election that saw the rise of Hon. Dr. George Bhoka. Buga warned that continued antagonism from RDC Mpimbaza may tip the district back into opposition hands.

“During a council meeting held in January 2025, the council resolved and declared the RDC Mpimbaza a persona non grata and petitioned the Minister of Presidency Hon. Milly Babalanda to transfer him away from Obongi but she could not respect the will of the people and now the RDC Mpimbaza is on rampage intimidating technical officers with police arrests and court actions,” Buga stated.

Allegations of Land Grabbing and Media Slander

The RDC is also accused of supporting alleged land grabbers in Gimara Sub County. In a petition dated December 16, 2024, members of the Nyungale Clan accused the RDC of issuing threats of arrest to silence opposition to forceful land acquisition.

In addition, the RDC reportedly ran an aggressive media campaign—especially on Aulogo FM—targeting political and technical leaders using what Buga described as “disparaging and politically obscene” language.

“He claims without him Obongi district local government would have been a failed administration he therefore, will have no regret if the current leadership which is predominantly NRM is replaced by opposition stalwarts come 2026, general elections, this is a clear manifestation that the RDC is comfortable working with leaders of opposition parties,” Buga charged.

RDC Mpimbaza is also accused of harassing technical officers and contractors, arresting them on mere suspicion of poor workmanship. These actions, Buga claims, have demoralized workers and undermined service delivery.

“The technical officers are working under duress, many of them have lost morale as the RDC stigmatizes them as utterly corrupt to the bones and common thieves who are daily swindling cash from government coffers.”

Council Members Weigh In

During a district council meeting, Hon. Chandimale Joseph Opeli, representing older persons, acknowledged the council’s previous efforts to fight corruption—long before RDC Mpimbaza’s deployment.

“Didn’t the council secure the interdictions of several civil servants when they were closely linked to acts of corruption even before RDC Mpimbaza was deployed to Obongi? Anyway, records indicate that he has served in 25 districts, but I don’t think those districts are corruption-free,” Opeli said.

The controversy has now drawn the attention of Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee, with MPs during a budget session on April 3, 2025, demanding RDC Mpimbaza’s immediate transfer.

In a viral video clip, Adjumani East MP Hon. Mamawi James asked why Minister Babalanda had failed to act on the district’s resolution. The matter was referred to Mr. Yunus Kakande, the RDCs’ supervisor. “We are removing him this week,” Kakande told the committee.

The committee chairperson, Hon. Alex Byarugaba Bakunda of Isingiro South urged Mr. Kakande to act decisively and follow through on the withdrawal of RDC Mpimbaza from Obongi.

Will the President Act?

While the President of Uganda, under Articles 99 and 203 of the Constitution, holds the authority to appoint, transfer or relieve RDCs, sources in State House say the final decision will depend on whether the allegations against Mpimbaza are verified or deemed part of a larger plot by corrupt networks.

“If it is proved that there are mafias of corruption syndicates behind the council resolution the president may be reluctant in transferring RDC Mpimbaza but if it’s ascertained he is fighting personal wars at the expense of service delivery, he may not only be withdrawn but relieved of his services,” a highly placed source in the President’s Office disclosed.

Efforts by Daily Express to get a response from RDC Mpimbaza were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or WhatsApp messages.

However, a section of the public reportedly still supports the RDC, describing him as a principled anti-graft crusader whose mission is being sabotaged by political beneficiaries of corruption.