Jennifer Muheirwe, the principal human resources officer for Ntungamo District, has been suspended over allegations of payroll mismanagement and corruption.
The suspension was ordered by the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Fedelis Kizza, in response to a directive from Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government.
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According to a letter dated May 21, Muheirwe is accused of unlawfully reinstating six medical personnel—absent from duty for more than a decade—onto the district payroll, bypassing established public service procedures.
An investigation conducted by the Ministry of Local Government revealed that her actions may have violated Section F-a of the Public Service Standing Orders, 2021, which classifies the alleged misconduct as serious.
“In line with Section F-s of the Standing Orders, you are hereby interdicted from your duties with immediate effect to allow a thorough investigation,” the letter reads.
The six health workers allegedly reinstated include anesthetic officer Frank Kabireho, assistant health educator Marion Tumanyane, and enrolled nurses Julius Mbeine, Adrian Karuhanga, Jerome Bimanyoha, and Wilber Tumusiime—who were reportedly absent from service since 2021.
Speaking to the press on May 27, CAO Kizza said the move was prompted by increasing complaints from public servants and pensioners facing hurdles in accessing payroll services, with some allegedly being asked for bribes.
“There are widespread issues—new employees can’t get onto the payroll, pensioners are blocked unless they pay,” Kizza noted. “But what triggered this action was the blatant bypassing of procedures to sneak names onto the system.”
Kizza added that Muheirwe’s interdiction follows a joint investigation by officials from the Ministry of Public Service, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Equal Opportunities Commission. The probe was sparked by Muheirwe’s earlier petition against the district council’s attempt to remove her from office.
A previous effort by the council to interdict her in 2023 stalled due to legal complexities and her appeal to the relevant ministries.
Muheirwe previously worked in human resources with the Uganda Police, Kabale District, and Rukiga District.
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