Published on 25/07/2025
The District Registration Officer of the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in Kyankwanzi, Mr. Nabuguuzi Isaac, has been arrested and arraigned before the Kyankwanzi Magistrate’s Court on charges of extortion and abuse of office.
Mr. Nabuguuzi was charged with demanding money by menaces following a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The court remanded him to prison until August 17, 2025, as investigations continue.
According to prosecution, between June and July 2025, Nabuguuzi allegedly used his authority to extort money from over 50 newly recruited Registration Assistants under NIRA. He is said to have threatened them with job termination if they failed to comply, particularly after they received their first salaries.
Each assistant was reportedly coerced into giving between UGX 300,000 to UGX 500,000, either in cash or via mobile money transfers. Nabuguuzi allegedly claimed the money was a “token of appreciation” for his help in securing their employment with the national agency.
Investigators say his actions not only violated ethical standards but also undermined the integrity of the public recruitment process, casting a shadow over NIRA’s operations in Kyankwanzi.
In response to the arrest, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on extortion and abuse of office, warning public officials against exploiting vulnerable workers under their supervision.
The arrest comes amid broader government efforts to root out corruption in civil service recruitment and protect junior employees from coercion and financial exploitation.
