The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has sentenced Ramadhan Ngobi, the headteacher of Nakazigo Primary School in Mayuge District, to one year in prison for embezzling Shs 176 million meant for school infrastructure development.
Prosecutors revealed that the 58-year-old headteacher unlawfully withdrew the funds from the school’s account, which were allocated for building two classroom blocks and a five-stall latrine, and instead used the money for personal gain.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
Grade One Magistrate Christopher Opit, who presided over the case, found Ngobi guilty of embezzlement and abuse of office. He handed him a 12-month sentence for embezzlement and an additional six months for abuse of office. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Ngobi was also barred from holding any public office for the next 10 years and ordered to repay the full Shs 176 million, which must be deposited into the Inspectorate of Government’s asset recovery account at the Bank of Uganda.
The case highlights ongoing corruption challenges in Uganda’s public education sector, which continue to undermine service delivery and learning quality.
A 2021 Inspectorate of Government (IG) report estimated that 18% of education sector grants—roughly Shs 244 billion annually—are lost through embezzlement. The report also warned that corruption costs the education sector more than half of its annual government budget.
“Beyond financial losses, corruption directly harms students by diminishing the quality of education they receive,” the IG report stated.
In response, the Ministry of Education, the IG, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit have intensified efforts to root out corruption in schools. These efforts have led to multiple arrests and prosecutions of school administrators and public officials.
Earlier this week, the principal of Kaliro National Teachers’ College was apprehended over similar allegations of embezzlement, abuse of office, and causing financial loss. Meanwhile, several headteachers in Ntungamo District are under investigation for allegedly inflating student numbers to divert government funds.
Also Read: Amama Mbabazi’s Daughter Wanted Over Unpaid Shs 450m Loan
