Five Kisoro District Local Government officials, including the district speaker and the chairperson of the District Service Commission, have been arrested over allegations of soliciting and receiving money from job applicants in exchange for securing them employment.
The arrests were carried out by the Anti-Corruption Unit at State House in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), according to a statement issued by the Anti-Corruption Unit on Friday.
Those arrested are Hakizimana Amos, the Kisoro District Speaker; Nshaka Erastus, Chairperson of the District Service Commission; Turamuhawe Richard, a DSC member; Mfitumukiza John, a district councillor; and Muhanika Alphonse, who the authorities described as an alleged broker and middleman.
Two other suspects — Francesca Mugisha, the Secretary to the District Service Commission, and Matata Alex, a teacher and alleged middleman — are reportedly on the run.
Preliminary investigations indicate that between October and December 2025, the suspects, together with others who are still at large, allegedly solicited and received about Shs200 million from different job applicants.
The Anti-Corruption Unit said the money was allegedly obtained from applicants in exchange for purported assistance in securing jobs within Kisoro District Local Government.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the recruitment process.
“Investigations are in advanced stages,” the Anti-Corruption Unit said, adding that upon completion of the investigations, the suspects are expected to be charged before the Anti-Corruption Court on corruption-related offences.
The allegations have also prompted the authorities to appeal to other people who may have paid money for jobs to come forward.
The Anti-Corruption Unit encouraged members of the public to report any additional cases in which they were allegedly asked to pay, or actually paid, money to the suspects or other individuals in connection with securing employment in Kisoro District.
The case adds to persistent concerns over the use of public recruitment processes as opportunities for bribery and exploitation of unemployed Ugandans.
For many job seekers, particularly young people competing for a limited number of public-sector positions, the promise of employment can become a powerful bargaining tool. The question investigators now face is not only how much money allegedly changed hands, but how many applicants may have been drawn into the scheme and whether others within the recruitment chain were involved.
The suspects have not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations remain subject to investigation and determination by the courts.
