Hoima Resident District Commissioner Rogers Mbabazi has been arrested over allegations that he extorted money from residents seeking help, particularly in land disputes.
Detectives from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit arrested Mbabazi on Saturday evening at Kigorobya Muslim Primary School in Kigorobya Town Council during the ongoing “Expose the Corrupt Campaign” led by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara.
Barugahara ordered the arrest after several residents accused the RDC of demanding money before helping them access government services.
Residents alleged that Mbabazi demanded between Shs1 million and Shs5 million, particularly from people seeking his intervention in land disputes. They also accused him of colluding with land grabbers to threaten residents with eviction from their ancestral land.
After listening to the complaints, Barugahara directed the Anti-Corruption Unit detectives to arrest Mbabazi, who was subsequently taken into custody
The campaign also drew complaints against Hoima District LC5 Chairperson Uthman Kadir Mugisa, whom Barugahara directed to record a statement with the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
Residents accused Mugisa of corruption, extortion, obtaining money by false pretences and selling government jobs.
They alleged that the district chairperson demanded between Shs5 million and Shs20 million from people seeking employment in the district, but failed to deliver the promised jobs even after receiving payment.
The allegations against Mbabazi and Mugisa have raised fresh questions about accountability and the delivery of public services in Hoima District.
However, the allegations against both officials remain unproven, and the investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the complaints.