By Our Reporter
Kitagwenda, Uganda — The Kitagwenda District LC5 Chairperson, Mushemeza Ismail Kambanda, has been charged before the Kamwenge Magistrates Court over allegations of fraudulently obtaining money from jobseekers by falsely promising them government employment.
Mushemeza was arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) in coordination with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). He was produced in court and remanded until January 6, 2026.
According to SHACU, Mushemeza, together with accomplices still at large, is accused of defrauding several applicants between 2024 and 2025 by promising jobs in the Nursing and Midwifery departments of Kitagwenda District, despite there being no available vacancies.
Investigations reveal that victims allegedly paid between UGX 5 million and UGX 15 million, either directly to Mushemeza or through his agents. The applicants were later issued fake appointment letters and forged District Service Commission minutes, which they were told confirmed their recruitment.
However, upon reporting for duty, the victims discovered that the promised jobs did not exist. Attempts to recover their money proved futile, prompting them to petition the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which then launched investigations in collaboration with police and local leaders.
SHACU officials say that after learning about the ongoing inquiries, Mushemeza allegedly abandoned his office and went into hiding for several months before he was eventually tracked down and arrested. Investigators are continuing efforts to trace and arrest his alleged accomplices.
Authorities have since appealed to more victims of the alleged scam to come forward and record statements with the police to aid ongoing investigations.
The case adds to wider nationwide investigations into corruption within District Service Commissions. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has, on several occasions, strongly condemned the sale of government jobs, describing it as a betrayal of public trust and a denial of opportunity to deserving Ugandans.
The Anti-Corruption Unit reports that it has so far conducted inquiries in over 20 districts, including Mpigi, Gomba, Kyankwanzi, and Mukono, with more than 15 officials already arraigned on charges related to recruitment fraud.
Investigations into the Kitagwenda case are ongoing.
