Residents of Budaka in Bukedi Sub-region have leveled accusations against district leaders for allegedly extorting money from job seekers. The arrest of Mr. George Mukamba, a Budaka Sub-county district councilor, on charges of soliciting money from job applicants has further fueled these allegations.
According to North Bukedi regional police spokesperson Samuel Semewo, a teacher named Sulaiman Kibubula reported a case against Mr. Mukamba, alleging that he extorted Shs4 million from him to secure a promotion to the position of head teacher. Investigations suggest that Mr. Mukamba exploited his positions as a district councilor and secretary for health and education to solicit money from job seekers.
Further investigations reveal instances where applicants seeking government jobs in Budaka district were required to pay money before being considered for recruitment. An advertisement placed in the New Vision newspaper on May 12, 2022, resulted in a high number of applicants, many of whom were asked for varying amounts of money.
Mr. Afani Kafero, the district youth chairperson, described the level of extortion from job seekers as a chronic issue. He called upon anti-corruption agencies such as the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and the State House Anti-corruption Unit to investigate these allegations.
In response, Mr. Elly Piwanga, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), urged victims of extortion to report such incidents to the police. He emphasized the importance of merit-based recruitment and condemned the practice of soliciting money for job opportunities.
