news 20 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
URSB Officials Stepped Aside Following Corruption Allegations and Presidential Directive
Five senior officials at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) have been ordered to step aside pending investigations into alleged financial and administrative irregularities, following a directive from President Museveni and subsequent action by the Minister of Justice. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/inside-meeting-that-sealed-fate-of-5-top-ursb-officials-5564468
A high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Norbert Mao, has led to five senior officials at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) being placed on mandatory leave. This action stems from allegations of financial and administrative irregularities within the bureau, prompted by a directive from President Yoweri Museveni.
The officials affected are Registrar General Mercy K. Kainobwisho, Deputy Registrar General Alex Anganya, Commissioner for ICT and Innovation Arthur Kwesiga, Commissioner for Registration Services Gilbert Agaba, and Assistant Commissioner for Registration Services Walid Kule. They received letters informing them of their temporary departure from office, with the Inspector General of Government (IGG) tasked to lead the investigation into allegations including embezzlement, abuse of office, money laundering, and mismanagement.
The investigation was initiated after a senior URSB official reportedly raised concerns about alleged wrongdoing and subsequently approached Attorney General Sam Mayanja. The Attorney General escalated these concerns to President Museveni, leading to the presidential directive on July 24 for the officials to be sent on leave. The subsequent meeting on August 12, attended by top Justice Ministry officials, aimed to gather more details before implementing administrative actions.
Allegations reportedly include the inflation of contracts for ICT systems, suspected money laundering through the Non-Individual Register project, misappropriation of funds, irregular procurement, fraudulent registrations, weak financial controls, and under-collection of revenue. These claims have not yet been independently verified.
Minister Mao has appointed Mr. Mustapher Ntale as the acting Registrar General. He assured the public that this investigation is not a reflection on the URSB as an institution and expressed confidence in its overall performance. The Ministry plans to facilitate a meeting between the URSB Board and management with the President to address the allegations and mitigate reputational risks.