Two government officials from Fort Portal City have been remanded to Luzira Prison for allegedly participating in the irregular recruitment of 23 workers into Uganda’s Public Service.
The officials, Richard Kagaba Ndora, 50, the deputy chief administrative officer of Tororo District (formerly acting City Clerk of Fort Portal Tourism City), and Ben Mutooro Musinguzi, 49, an office attendant, appeared before Christopher Opit, the Grade One Magistrate at the Anti-Corruption Court. They pleaded not guilty to the charge of abuse of office under section 10 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The two are jointly charged with Susan Kyomuhendo, 51, a senior assistant secretary. However, Kyomuhendo was absent from court, prompting the issuance of criminal summons for her to appear on December 4 for the charges to be formally presented.
Although the accused attempted to secure bail through their lawyers, the trial magistrate remanded them until December 4, when their bail application will be reconsidered.
According to the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that between November 2022 and July 2023, Ndora, Kyomuhendo, and Musinguzi, while employed at the Fort Portal Tourism City offices, abused their positions by facilitating the irregular recruitment of 23 applicants. This alleged recruitment process violated established procedures and guidelines for employment in Uganda’s Public Service.