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The suspects — Mugerwa John Bosco, Chairperson of the Gomba District Service Commission; Muwonge Michael, Secretary of the Commission; and Charles Lwanga, District Inspector of Schools
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Gomba
Three senior officials from Gomba District have been remanded to prison after being charged with extortion and soliciting bribes from job applicants and school heads in a scandal that has rocked the local government.
The suspects — Mugerwa John Bosco, Chairperson of the Gomba District Service Commission; Muwonge Michael, Secretary of the Commission; and Charles Lwanga, District Inspector of Schools — appeared before the Grade I Magistrate’s Court in Gomba District on charges of demanding money with menaces and conspiracy to commit a felony.
They were arraigned following a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
According to prosecution, between February and November 2024, the two Service Commission members allegedly conspired to extort money from desperate job seekers, demanding bribes ranging from UGX 1 million to UGX 20 million in exchange for employment opportunities within the district. Some of the victims are said to have paid the bribes and were eventually appointed to senior positions.
In a separate charge, Mr. Charles Lwanga, the District Inspector of Schools, is accused of soliciting money from head teachers in Gomba District. He allegedly promised them favourable postings and promotions in return for cash payments. The arrests come after President Yoweri Museveni directed the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate and crack down on officials involved in selling government jobs in the region. 
The trio has been remanded to prison until July 25, 2025, when they will return to court for further mention of their case. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit has urged members of the public who may have been victims of similar extortion to come forward and cooperate with investigators.
Torch Media Africa
