By Richard Onapatum
Six senior education officials from Ntungamo District, including the District Education Officer, a Municipal Education Officer, and five head teachers, have been arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Division Court on charges of Causing Financial Loss and Abuse of Office. The arrests follow investigations conducted by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Officials Charged:
– Bahati Fred – District Education Officer
– Nabaasa Gordon – Municipal Education Officer
– Nabasa Rushegyera Abias – Former Head Teacher, Ntungamo Primary School
– Komuhangi Allen – Head Teacher, Ruhoko Primary School
– Munuunura Bernards – Head Teacher, Maato Primary School
– Ntereire Geoffrey – Head Teacher, Kikoni SDA Primary School
Ghost Pupils and Financial Loss
Investigations uncovered a significant discrepancy in pupil enrollment figures submitted by the district to the Ministry of Education and Sports, which led to a substantial financial loss for the government. According to Ministry of Education records, the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development had been disbursing capitation grants for 124,817 pupils across 249 UPE schools in Ntungamo District for the 2023/2024 financial year. However, further investigations revealed that the district actually had only about 80,000 pupils, far less than the 121,094 pupils reported by the ministry. This discrepancy indicated that more than 40,000 “ghost” pupils were being falsely reported, leading to an estimated financial loss of UGX 1 billion.
Key Findings of the Investigation
The loss was attributed to multiple factors, including:
– Inflation of Pupil Numbers: Head teachers allegedly manipulated school enrollment data to falsely increase the number of registered pupils in order to secure additional capitation grants from the government.
– Negligence by the District Education Department: Officials at the district level failed to conduct proper verification of the figures submitted by school administrators before forwarding them to the Ministry of Education. This failure resulted in the Ministry of Finance relying on inaccurate data when allocating funds.
– Mismanagement of Capitation and Education Grants: Investigations also revealed that some head teachers failed to adhere to official guidelines on the expenditure of capitation grants. Additionally, the District Education Department did not demand proper accountability before authorizing subsequent financial releases.
Obstruction of Investigations
In a related development, two teachers, Tunanukye Marsaile and Nkumiriza Molly, are set to be arraigned before the Ntungamo Chief Magistrates Court on charges of conspiracy to defeat justice. The duo allegedly attempted to interfere with the investigation into pupil enrollment at Nyakasi Primary School by unlawfully transferring nursery pupils to Primary One to manipulate enrollment records.
The arrests and prosecution of these officials highlight the government’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the education sector. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has vowed to hold accountable all individuals responsible for financial mismanagement and fraudulent practices within public institutions. Authorities have warned that further investigations are underway, and additional arrests may follow as they seek to recover the lost funds and ensure accountability in UPE schools.
The government’s commitment to fighting corruption is evident in this case, and the public is urged to report any suspicious activities or corruption incidents to the relevant authorities. By working together, Uganda can ensure that public funds are used efficiently and effectively, and that corruption is eradicated from all sectors.
