KAMPALA, Uganda .
The Inspectorate of Government has renewed its push for the interdiction of Uganda Registration Services Bureau Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and three other senior officials as investigations into alleged corruption at the agency continue.
The IGG says the officials should be removed from their positions temporarily while investigators examine allegations surrounding the management and operations of URSB.
The latest directive has been addressed to Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, who the Inspectorate says should enforce the interdiction of Kainobwisho.
The other three officials are Deputy Registrar General Alex Anganya, Commissioner for ICT and Innovations Arthur Kwesiga and Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Services Walid Kule.
The Inspectorate had earlier directed that the four officials be interdicted but says the order was not implemented. Instead, they were placed on mandatory leave.
According to the IGG, keeping the officials on mandatory leave for an extended period does not serve the same purpose as interdiction and has also raised questions about their continued absence from office.
The Inspectorate says the investigation involves allegations including abuse of office, embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, maladministration and other forms of institutional mismanagement.
The latest directive is intended to allow the investigation to proceed without the officials potentially influencing witnesses, accessing records or otherwise interfering with the process.
Whistleblower ordered back to work
At the same time, the IGG has ordered URSB to reinstate Commissioner for Business Registration Services Gilbert Agaba.
Agaba was also placed on mandatory leave, but the Inspectorate says he was not one of the officials targeted in the corruption investigation.
The IGG says Agaba had made a protected disclosure and should therefore be protected from victimisation under Uganda’s whistleblower protection laws.
The Inspectorate has directed the URSB board to allow him to resume his duties.
The dispute over the four officials comes as the IGG continues examining the affairs of one of Uganda’s key public institutions.
URSB is responsible for several important government services, including registration of companies and businesses, intellectual property and other statutory registration services.
The Inspectorate’s latest action does not amount to a finding that Kainobwisho or the other officials committed corruption. The allegations remain under investigation, and any disciplinary or criminal liability would have to be established through the appropriate legal processes.
The IGG has cited its constitutional and statutory powers in directing the interdictions and the reinstatement of the protected whistleblower.
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