The anti-corruption crackdown sweeping through Uganda’s local governments has tightened its grip on Mbale District after four senior officials, including the District Health Officer and the Head Teacher of the prestigious Nabumali Secondary School, were arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court on allegations ranging from abuse of office to corruption through neglect of duty.
The officials were presented in court by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), following investigations conducted under the nationwide “Expose the Corrupt” campaign spearheaded by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara.
The accused are Dr. Jonathan Wangisi, the Mbale District Health Officer (DHO); Khaukha Sam Paddy, the District Education Officer (DEO); Walufu Asadi, the District Inspector of Schools (DIS); and Nabiryo Betty Wamanga, the Head Teacher of Nabumali Secondary School.
DHO Accused of Irregular Staff Transfers
According to the prosecution, Dr. Wangisi faces charges of abuse of office and corruption through neglect of duty over decisions that allegedly disrupted healthcare services across Mbale District.
Investigators allege that between 2023 and 2024, while serving as District Health Officer, Dr. Wangisi unlawfully transferred several health workers from various health centres to Busia Health Centre IV without consulting or obtaining the mandatory approval of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), contrary to the procedures governing deployment of district staff.
Prosecutors contend that the transfers left several health facilities critically understaffed, significantly affecting healthcare delivery to communities that depended on those facilities.
Beyond the alleged unlawful transfers, investigators say Dr. Wangisi failed to discharge key statutory responsibilities expected of a District Health Officer.
He is accused of neglecting duties such as assessing staffing requirements, monitoring staff leave schedules and coordinating the deployment of health workers throughout the district. Prosecutors argue that these failures compounded the staffing crisis and weakened health service delivery in the district.
Following his appearance before court, Dr. Wangisi was remanded to prison until August 4, 2026, when he is expected to return for further proceedings.
Nabumali Secondary School at Centre of Illegal Fees Probe
In a separate case arising from the same investigations, Nabumali Secondary School Head Teacher Nabiryo Betty Wamanga was charged with abuse of office.
Investigators allege that between the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years, she unlawfully imposed additional charges on students despite the school operating under Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme.
According to investigators, the alleged extra fees were collected in violation of both the Education Act and the Universal Secondary Education (USE) Policy Guidelines, which regulate charges in government-aided schools benefiting from the USE programme.
The allegations have renewed concerns over the continued imposition of unauthorized school charges despite repeated government warnings to school administrators against burdening parents with illegal fees.
Education Officials Accused of Looking Away
The prosecution also charged District Education Officer Khaukha Sam Paddy and District Inspector of Schools Walufu Asadi with corruption through neglect of duty.
Investigators say the two officials allegedly failed to carry out effective supervision, monitoring and inspection of schools under their jurisdiction.
The prosecution contends that their alleged failure enabled government-aided schools, including Nabumali Secondary School, to continue collecting unlawful fees from students without intervention from district education authorities.
Authorities argue that as the district’s chief education supervisors, the two officials had a legal obligation to inspect schools regularly, enforce government education policies and ensure compliance with the USE guidelines.
Instead, investigators allege, they neglected those responsibilities, allowing the alleged illegal practices to continue.
Both officials, together with Head Teacher Nabiryo, were remanded until August 6, 2026.
Part of Nationwide Anti-Corruption Offensive
The arrests form part of the ongoing nationwide “Expose the Corrupt” campaign launched by Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara to root out corruption, abuse of office and maladministration within local governments.
The campaign has seen teams from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit working alongside CID and the ODPP to investigate complaints from members of the public concerning misuse of public office, illegal charges, abuse of authority and poor service delivery.
Officials say the initiative is intended to strengthen accountability in district local governments by ensuring public officials who abuse their positions are investigated and prosecuted where sufficient evidence exists.
The latest arraignment follows a series of recent prosecutions targeting district officials across Uganda over alleged corruption-related offences, signalling an increasingly aggressive enforcement approach against public servants accused of undermining government service delivery.
Presumption of Innocence
The accused persons have denied no charges at this stage of the proceedings, and the cases remain before court.
Under Ugandan law, all four officials are presumed innocent unless and until they are proved guilty or plead guilty before a competent court.
The Anti-Corruption Division is expected to resume hearing Dr. Wangisi’s case on August 4, while the cases against Khaukha, Walufu and Nabiryo are scheduled to return to court on August 6, 2026.
