Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao appointed Mustapher Ntale as the acting Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
This change follows the removal of five top managers, including Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho, who were sent on mandatory leave pending a high-level corruption and financial misbehavior probe
President Yoweri Museveni ordered an official investigation into allegations of fund embezzlement, abuse of office, and money laundering at the bureau. The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) is leading the probe alongside auditors from the Office of the President.
Affected senior staff were sent on mandatory leave to ensure investigations run smoothly without interference.
Now, Mustapher Ntale, has been assigned to oversee the agency’s operations pending investigations into alleged corruption and mismanagement.
Following their suspension by President Yoweri Museveni to create room for investigations into alleged stealing of public money , mismanagement, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala, has directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Nobert Mao, to interdict Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and other three staff members pending investigations into allegations of stealing public money .
The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has since commenced investigations into allegations against Kainobwisho involving embezzlement of government funds, abuse of office, institutional mismanagement, money laundering and maladministration.
According to the IG, the interdiction is intended to safeguard the integrity of the investigations and prevent possible interference while the allegations are being examined.
The directive is based on Article 230 of the Constitution and Section 13(6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, Cap. 32, which empowers the IGG to issue orders and directions considered necessary in the course of its duties or as a consequence of its findings.
The IGG said public interest requires that Kainobwisho be suspended from exercising the powers and functions of her office while investigations are ongoing.
The other officials sent on forced leave are Deputy Registrar General Alex Aganya, Commissioner for ICT and Innovations Arthur Kwesiga, and Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Services Walid Kule.
