The Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, Samson Kasasira, says that they were arrested over the weekend, and the authorities are actively searching for Benjamin Karugaba, another member of the same commission.
Two officials from the Mbarara City Service Commission, Edward
Karugaba and Lubega M. Kazooba, are in police custody on charges of corruption
and abuse of office. The Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, Samson Kasasira,
says that they were arrested over the weekend, and the authorities are actively
searching for Benjamin Karugaba, another member of the same commission.
According to Kasasira, the trio is accused of collaborating to
extort money from desperate candidates by promising them employment
opportunities. Karugaba allegedly fled shortly after the arrest of his
colleagues. The suspects are now facing three charges: corruption, extortion,
and abuse of office as investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mayor of Mbarara City, noted that
while he had written to the commission's chairperson about concerns regarding
some of its members, no action had been taken. Augustine Atwijukye Kagutiya,
the chairperson Mbarara City Service Commission, declined to provide a
statement when asked about the allegations and the arrests of his
commissioners.
It is alleged that the trio committed the offenses between
January and April 2023, shortly after Mbarara City Council advertised various positions,
including that of the city chief finance officer, city planner, natural
resources and environment officer, physical planner, commercial officer, and
principal internal auditor.
However, the recruitment process was halted by city
authorities after allegations of bribery surfaced. In April, the Equal
Opportunities Commission also wrote to Mbarara City authorities advising them
to pause the process and investigate Karugaba and other commissioners accused
of corruption.
