IGG Orders Interdiction of URSB Boss Kainobwisho, Three Senior Officials

What the report says

Uganda’s Inspectorate of Government has ordered the interdiction of Uganda Registration Services Bureau Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and three senior officials as a corruption probe gets underway. According to Nile Post, the directive was issued on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and was sent to Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao, with instructions to remove Kainobwisho from office while investigations continue. The other officials named are Deputy Registrar General Alex Aganya, Commissioner for ICT and Innovations Arthur Kwesiga, and Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Services Walid Kule.

The allegations cited in the directive include embezzlement of government funds, abuse of office, money laundering, institutional mismanagement and maladministration. The Inspectorate said the step is meant to prevent interference with the inquiry. The URSB board has also been told to make interim arrangements so the bureau’s operations can continue during the interdiction. In a separate move, Mao was directed to suspend a residential URSB training programme at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi until the probe is completed or further guidance is issued.

Nile Post said the action marks a major escalation of a dispute that began as an internal disciplinary matter and later drew in the President, the Attorney General and the Inspectorate. President Yoweri Museveni had already ordered some senior URSB officials to step aside pending an audit. As a general matter, such interdictions are typically used in Uganda when authorities want officials out of active duty during investigations, but the current allegations have not been proven in court.