BREAKING: Minister Balaam orders arrest, interdiction of Mbarara City officials over alleged misconduct

What the report says

Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara has ordered the interdiction and arrest of senior Mbarara City officials over allegations of financial loss to government, abuse of office and irregular handling of contracts. The officials named in the report are City Clerk Justine Barekye, her deputy Simon Ejua and City Engineer Hillary Mugisha, according to Nile Post.

The directive was issued on Tuesday and is tied to concerns about financial mismanagement and alleged misconduct within the city administration. The article says the minister’s move followed accusations that the officials were involved in irregular contract awards and other practices that may have caused losses to public funds. Further details on the exact allegations and the legal or administrative process were not immediately provided in the text.

The development comes as the central government continues to face pressure to improve accountability in local governments and tighten oversight of procurement and public spending. In general, interdiction is a common administrative step in public service investigations, allowing inquiries to proceed while officials are kept away from duty, but the article does not state whether formal charges have been filed. The reported action signals closer scrutiny of Mbarara City’s administration and broader efforts to curb misuse of public resources.