The Police’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) has arrested nine government officials suspected of being part of a major payroll fraud scandal. The suspects come from different government agencies, including the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.
According to investigators, the group is believed to have played a role in a racket that siphoned more than 53 billion shillings from public funds. The money was allegedly paid to “ghost” beneficiaries—nonexistent workers whose names were secretly added to the government payroll.
So far, more than 40 of these so-called “ghosts” are still on the run. Police say they are actively hunting them down and gathering more evidence to bring everyone involved to justice.
The scandal has shocked many Ugandans, raising serious concerns about how such a huge sum could be stolen without being detected earlier. It also raises fresh questions about weaknesses in payroll management across government institutions.
Authorities say the ongoing investigation will dig deeper to uncover how the racket was set up, who approved the fake payments, and where the stolen billions ended up. For now, the arrest of the nine officials marks the first big step in dismantling the network that has been stealing from taxpayers.
