Mpigi district chairperson, two DSC officials arrested over job bribery

Mpigi District Service Commission chairperson Fredrick Kirumira and secretary Sarah Nakamoga upon arrest

Mpigi district LC V chairperson and two senior officials of the District Service Commission (DSC) have been arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) over allegations of soliciting bribes in exchange for jobs.

The arrested officials include Martine Ssejjemba, Mpigi district chairperson; Fredrick Kirumira, chairperson of the DSC; and Sarah Nakamoga, secretary of the District Service Commission (DSC).

Their arrests followed a directive from President Yoweri Museveni, who ordered investigations after receiving complaints during his Parish Development Model (PDM) monitoring tour in the Greater Mpigi area on June 17, 2025.

During the tour, local journalists and residents reported widespread corruption within the district’s recruitment process, alleging that jobs were being sold to the highest bidder, with bribes ranging from Shs 500,000 to Shs 15 million reportedly demanded from job applicants.

Following the president’s directive, SHACU launched an investigation into the matter. In a statement issued on Friday, SHACU confirmed the arrests, stating that the suspects would be charged in court once the investigations are finalized.

“The three suspects will soon be arraigned and charged before courts of law as investigations are still ongoing,” the SHACU statement reads.

The officials have since been transferred to Kampala pending their formal charges. Job-related bribery has become increasingly rampant across Uganda’s local government structures.

In a related incident last year, David Mpuuga, chairperson of the Rakai District Service Commission, was arrested and charged after allegedly soliciting and receiving Shs 20 million from a job seeker in exchange for a position as an agricultural officer.

His arrest followed multiple complaints to the resident district commissioner (RDC), accusing him of demanding bribes for nearly every vacancy advertised. SHACU has reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption in public offices and urged citizens to report any cases of bribery or abuse of office in their local governments