KAMPALA — The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has placed five senior officials on mandatory leave pending investigations into allegations of corruption and abuse of office, as a forensic audit at the institution continues.
The affected officials include URSB Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho, Commissioner for Business Registration Gilbert Agaba, and Assistant Commissioner Walid Kule, among others.
The officials were reportedly served with letters on Friday, following days of heightened activity at the URSB headquarters, where forensic auditors were deployed as part of an ongoing examination of the Bureau’s operations.
The decision to send the senior officials on mandatory leave is understood to be intended to facilitate the investigations and allow auditors to conduct their work without interference.
The development has raised significant attention within the Bureau and among stakeholders, given the seniority of the officials affected and the allegations under investigation.
However, the decision to place the officials on leave does not in itself amount to a finding of wrongdoing. The allegations remain subject to the ongoing investigations and any subsequent administrative or legal processes.
In a statement issued amid reports about the developments at the Bureau, URSB confirmed that an audit is currently underway.
The Bureau said the exercise is being conducted in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws.
“URSB is aware of online reports regarding ongoing audit processes at the Bureau. URSB confirms that the audit is being undertaken in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws,” the statement reads.
The Bureau also sought to reassure members of the public that the audit has not disrupted its operations.
“URSB assures its clients, partners and the general public that service delivery remains uninterrupted,” the statement said.
According to URSB, the Bureau continues to provide services through its established channels and remains committed to transparency, accountability and professionalism.
The institution said it would provide further information, where appropriate, once the relevant processes have been concluded.
The ongoing audit and the decision to send senior officials on mandatory leave are likely to attract further scrutiny as investigators examine the allegations and establish whether any administrative, financial or criminal wrongdoing occurred.
For now, the five officials remain away from their duties as the investigations continue, while URSB maintains that its public services remain uninterrupted.
