Three senior officials from Mpigi District, including the district chairperson, have been sent back to Mpigi Main Prison after a court deferred their bail applications. The trio faces accusations of soliciting bribes in exchange for government jobs.
District chairperson Martine Ssejjemba, Fredrick Kirumura, chairperson of the Mpigi District Service Commission (DSC), and Sarah Nakamoga, the DSC secretary, appeared before Mpigi Chief Magistrate Joan Acca Ketty on Tuesday.
Ms Acca delayed the hearing after the state prosecutor, Justine Kyasimire, argued that one of the sureties presented, Hillary Kiyaga, the Mawokota North Member of Parliament, was “not substantial.” Ms Kyasimire stated that Mr Kiyaga, also known as Dr. Hilderman, failed to provide proper identification to confirm his status as a legislator.
The defendants’ lawyers, led by Abubaker Ssekanjako, had applied for bail after their clients pleaded not guilty to charges of demanding money with menace under the Penal Code Act. Mr Ssekanjako maintained that his clients were entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence, had substantial sureties and were law-abiding citizens with no prior criminal convictions.
However, Ms Kyasimire urged the court to dismiss the bail application, reiterating concerns about the suitability of one of the three sureties. Other sureties included former Mpigi District Woman MP Sarah Nakawungu Temulanda and Elvis Katongole.
The presiding magistrate adjourned the matter until next Tuesday, when she will deliver her ruling on the bail applications.
The three officials are accused of soliciting bribes ranging from 50,000 Ugandan shillings to 15 million Ugandan shillings from individuals seeking employment in the district.
Background to the arrests
On 25 June, detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested the three officials following allegations of bribe solicitation from job applicants. They were first taken to Mpigi Police Station to record statements before being transferred to Kampala Central Police Station, where they spent the weekend.
The arrests followed numerous complaints from residents, first raised during a 17 June meeting at Nakasero State Lodge in Kampala. Journalists from the Greater Mpigi region had informed President Museveni that district officials were routinely demanding bribes from job seekers.
The president reportedly directed Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, head of the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, to investigate the claims. On 23 June, a team of detectives began inquiries at the district administration offices in Mpigi.
On 27 June, the district council unanimously voted to dissolve the DSC and elected new office bearers, including Mathias Bwanika as the new DSC chairperson, and Juma Bbosa Mayanja, Joseph Mubiru Bigambo and Faridah Mayanja as members.
State’s allegations
Court records indicate that the accused solicited bribes, described as “tokens of appreciation,” from individuals seeking employment. Between January and May 2025, Fredrick Kirumura, Sarah Nakamoga and others still at large allegedly demanded 5 million Ugandan shillings from Herbert Butemba, an applicant for assistant district health officer (environmental health), under the pretext of securing the job.
In a separate incident during the same period, Martine Ssejjemba, the Mpigi LC5 chairperson, and unidentified accomplices are accused of demanding 1 million Ugandan shillings from other job seekers in the district.
