The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has sent several senior officials on mandatory leave as questions grow over alleged management conflicts, governance concerns and internal accountability at the institution.
By Sunday, URSB had remained tight-lipped about the development and had not publicly explained why the officials were sent on leave. However, sources familiar with the institution said the decision comes at a time of growing tension among senior managers, which has reportedly affected decision-making at the Bureau.
One source described the situation as increasingly difficult, saying senior officials have struggled to reach agreement during top management meetings. Another source attributed the tensions to disagreements over jobs, personal rivalries and disputes over control of internal budgets.
The mandatory leave is understood to be aimed at creating room for investigations to take place without interference. However, being placed on leave does not mean that any of the officials has been found guilty of wrongdoing.
The development comes at a time when URSB is facing scrutiny over several areas of its operations, including procurement, financial management, information and communication technology projects and registration processes.
The situation has also drawn attention to allegations raised by URSB official Agaba, who in a July 29 letter challenged disciplinary action taken against him. Agaba said he had previously raised concerns with URSB management about what he described as serious governance and accountability problems at the Bureau.
Among the allegations he raised were claims of inflated contracts involving the development and maintenance of ICT systems, alleged money laundering connected to the Non-Individual Register project, misappropriation of Bureau funds, irregular procurement practices, fraudulent registrations, weak financial controls and under-collection of revenue.
Agaba further argued that investigations and disciplinary proceedings against him started after he raised these concerns with the Registrar General. He questioned the fairness of the process, saying it was neither impartial nor conducted in good faith.
The allegations remain unproven and have not been independently established.
The latest developments also revive earlier concerns raised about the management of URSB. In September 2025, the Inspectorate of Government sought explanations from the Bureau over separate allegations involving abuse of office, influence peddling and conflict of interest.
In a September 22, 2025 letter to the Registrar General, Inspector General of Government Beti Kamya said her office had received a complaint concerning then URSB board secretary Caroline Tusingwire Egesa.
The latest decision to send senior officials on leave therefore comes at a sensitive time for URSB, with attention now focused on whether the investigations will clarify the allegations and help address the reported divisions within the institution.
For now, URSB has not publicly provided detailed information on the officials affected, the specific investigations underway or when the officials are expected to return to work. The developments are likely to attract further public interest given the Bureau’s important role in business registration, company records and other registration services in Uganda.
