Three senior government officials in Gomba District have been arrested and charged in court for demanding bribes from job applicants. The suspects are accused of running a corrupt scheme where people had to pay large sums of money to get jobs or promotions in the district.
The suspects include Mugerwa John Bosco, the Chairperson of the Gomba District Service Commission, Muwonge Michael, the Commission’s Secretary, and Lwanga Charles, the District Inspector of Schools. They were brought before the Grade 1 Magistrate Court in Gomba this morning. They are facing serious charges of Demanding Money with Menaces and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. The court has remanded them until July 25, 2025.
According to investigations by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (@AntiGraft_SH), working with the Criminal Investigations Department (@CID1_UG) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (@ODPPUGANDA), the two Service Commission officials conspired to steal money by asking job seekers to pay bribes. Between February and November 2024, applicants were reportedly told to pay between UGX 1 million and UGX 20 million in order to be considered for district jobs.
Some victims of the scam said they eventually got high positions after paying the bribes, proving that the scheme had real effects on recruitment in the district.
In a separate case, Mr. Charles Lwanga, the Senior Inspector of Schools in Gomba, is accused of demanding money from headteachers. He allegedly promised them better job placements and promotions in exchange for cash.
These arrests come after President Yoweri Museveni ordered an investigation into the selling of government jobs. The President had directed the Anti-Corruption Unit to take firm action against those exploiting Ugandans who are desperate for employment.
This scandal has shocked the people of Gomba and raised serious concerns about corruption in public service. Many are now calling for tougher measures to stop such practices and ensure that government jobs are given based on merit, not money.
With the suspects now in jail, the public hopes justice will be served and that this case will send a strong warning to other corrupt officials.
