Two men have been arrested in Kyotera District over allegations that they worked as government primary school teachers for more than 15 years despite not having the required qualifications.
Charles Sseruwu and John Kavuma are accused of irregularly joining the public service payroll and receiving government salaries while working at Kakunyu Primary School in Kabira Sub-county.
Kyotera District Education Officer Lawrence Ssekyondwa said an investigation was opened after a whistleblower raised concerns about the academic credentials of the two men.
Ssekyondwa said investigators established that Sseruwu had allegedly been working under the identity of Joseph Kabazzi, a qualified teacher who had previously left the teaching profession because of health-related challenges.
According to district officials, Sseruwu, who is said to be related to Kabazzi, continued receiving a salary from the government using Kabazzi’s identity.
Investigators also allege that Kavuma entered the teaching service through an irregular recruitment process and was added to the government payroll despite not meeting the minimum academic requirements for a primary school teacher.
Ssekyondwa said investigators obtained academic documents, appointment letters and posting instructions that are now being examined. Statements were also taken from relatives of the suspects as part of the inquiry.
The two men have been handed over to police as investigations continue. District authorities say they will also seek to recover money allegedly paid to the suspects during the period they were on the payroll.
Kyotera District Chief Finance Officer Robert Kyambadde said payroll records indicated that Sseruwu had been receiving a salary under Kabazzi’s name. Kavuma, meanwhile, is suspected of having used forged academic documents to obtain employment.
“We also need to establish why the headteachers failed to thoroughly verify the identities and qualifications of these individuals. We believe the suspects can help expose the wider network behind this scheme,” Kyambadde said.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mathias Mulindwa said the case had raised concerns about weaknesses in the district’s verification systems.
He said authorities would strengthen checks on public servants amid concerns that other people could be receiving government salaries using false identities or qualifications.
Officials believe the alleged scheme dates back to the period when present-day Kyotera was still administered under Rakai District. Kyotera became a separate district in 2017.
The arrests have also renewed attention on problems previously identified on the area’s public service payroll.
In 2016, an audit by the Inspector General of Government identified about 200 ghost workers and unqualified civil servants on the payroll of the then Rakai District, resulting in the loss of millions of shillings in public funds.
