Five senior officials at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) have reportedly been sent on forced leave as investigations into allegations of corruption, financial impropriety and abuse of office at the government agency intensify.
Those affected reportedly include URSB Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho, Commissioner for Business Registration Gilbert Agaba, Deputy Registrar General for Finance and Administration Alex Anganya, Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Walid Kule, and Commissioner for Information and Communications Technology Arthur Kwesiga.
The officials reportedly received letters placing them on leave on Friday, August 14, shortly after forensic auditors arrived at the URSB headquarters in Kampala.
The development follows a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni in a July 24 letter to Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, ordering that the officials be sent on forced leave and that an immediate audit be conducted into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and abuse of office.
Museveni further directed the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to lead the investigations, with support from State House auditors identified as Kawawa and Tumwiine.
The President also instructed his Principal Private Secretary to summon URSB Board Chairman Ambassador Francis Butagira as part of the process.
The investigation comes as forensic auditors examine the affairs and financial operations of the Bureau, a key government agency responsible for registering businesses, companies, intellectual property and other legal entities.
URSB confirms audit
URSB confirmed on Monday, August 17, that an audit is underway, although the Bureau did not directly address reports that the five officials had been placed on forced leave.
In a statement, URSB said the audit was being conducted “in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws.”
The Bureau also did not comment on the specific allegations of corruption, embezzlement, financial impropriety or abuse of office reportedly under investigation.
Instead, URSB sought to reassure the public that its operations had not been affected by the developments.
“Service delivery remains uninterrupted,” the Bureau said, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism.
URSB said it would provide further information where appropriate once the relevant processes had been concluded.
Probe puts spotlight on URSB leadership
The investigation places the leadership and administration of URSB under heightened scrutiny as government authorities seek to establish whether public resources were mismanaged or whether officials abused their positions.
Being placed on forced leave does not, in itself, establish wrongdoing, and the allegations against the officials remain subject to investigation.
The involvement of the IGG and State House auditors signals a broader government effort to establish the facts surrounding the allegations before any further administrative or legal action is taken.
For URSB, the immediate challenge will be to maintain uninterrupted delivery of registration and other public services while the investigations proceed.
The Bureau has maintained that its services continue normally and that it remains committed to accountability and institutional professionalism.
The outcome of the audit and investigations is expected to determine whether the allegations have merit and what action, if any, should follow against the officials concerned.
