The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has directed Justice Minister Norbert Mao to enforce its earlier order to interdict Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) Registrar General Mercy Kainobwisho and three other senior officials over allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the institution.
In a statement, the Inspectorate said it had also directed URSB board chairperson Francis Butagira to immediately interdict Deputy Registrar General Alex Anganya, Commissioner for ICT and Innovations Arthur Kwesiga, and Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration Services Walid Kule.
The Inspectorate further ordered Butagira to reinstate Gilbert Agaba, the Commissioner for Business Registration Services, whose placement on forced leave by Mao it described as irregular.
“The IG has directed the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, to enforce its earlier directive to interdict Ms. Mercy Kainobwisho, the Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), over allegations of corruption within the institution,” the statement reads.
The directives follow an earlier order issued in August 2026, when the Inspectorate directed Mao to interdict Kainobwisho and the three other officials as investigations into alleged embezzlement of government funds, abuse of office, money laundering, institutional mismanagement and maladministration at URSB continued.
The Inspectorate said the interdictions were intended to ensure that the investigations proceed without interference and in the public interest.
However, instead of interdicting the officials, Mao placed them on mandatory leave, where they have remained beyond their statutory leave entitlement, according to the Inspectorate.
The Inspectorate also faulted Mao for compelling Agaba to take mandatory leave despite him not being a subject of the investigations.
It said the decision amounted to victimisation under the Whistleblowers Protection Act, which protects individuals from adverse treatment for making protected disclosures.
Section 9(1) of the Act provides that: “A person shall not be subject to any victimization by his or her employer or by any other person on account of or partly on account of having made a protected disclosure.”
The Inspectorate said Mao had therefore victimised Agaba by placing him on mandatory leave and directed that he immediately resume the full functions and duties of his office.
The directives are based on Article 230(2) of the Constitution and Section 13(6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act, which empower the Inspector General of Government to issue orders and directions considered necessary and appropriate in carrying out its mandate.
The Inspectorate reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and the principles of natural justice as it executes its mandate.
