Mpigi, Uganda: The Mpigi Chief Magistrates Court has charged and remanded three top district officials accused of operating a bribery racket that targeted job applicants seeking employment in the district service.
Ssejjemba Martine, the Chairperson of Mpigi District Local Council V, Kirumira Fredrick, the Chairperson of the District Service Commission, and Nakamoga Sarah, the Commission’s Secretary, were formally arraigned in court on Monday, June 30, 2025.
The trio was arrested on Friday, June 27, following a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who ordered an immediate crackdown after receiving numerous complaints about corruption during his monitoring tour of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Greater Mpigi on June 17.
According to the charge sheet presented in court, the officials allegedly demanded bribes ranging between UGX 50,000 and UGX 15 million in exchange for influencing the recruitment process.
The bribes were solicited under threats of denying applicants consideration for advertised positions within the district service.
The arrests were carried out by operatives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Brigadier General Henry Isoke. Preliminary investigations indicated that the trio had orchestrated a systematic scheme to extract money from desperate job seekers over several recruitment cycles.
Chief Magistrate Her Worship Grace Wakooli remanded all three suspects to prison until July 8, 2025, when they are expected to return to court for further mention of the case as inquiries continue.
The scandal has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for vigilance among Ugandans to report similar malpractices across the country’s local governments.
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