It’s Real Tears for Masaka Education Officer Accused of Registering Ghost Learners
Education
He alleged traded in ghost students but it was real tears when Steven Kakeeto faced tough accountability queries
The Masaka City education officer, Steven Kakeeto, faced intense questioning from the Inter-Agency Forum on Anti-Corruption and Transparency.
This committee, which includes the Directorate for Ethics and Integrity, accused Kakeeto of registering ghost students to embezzle government funds.
According to anti-corruption officials, Kakeeto inflated student enrollment numbers to facilitate fraudulent practices.
For instance, Kalagala Cope Primary School was officially listed with 90 government-sponsored pupils, but it only had 12.
Similarly, Butale Church of Uganda Primary School was falsely reported to have 200 students under government sponsorship, while the actual number was 120.
The officials alleged that these manipulations aimed to siphon government funds for personal gain.
Kakeeto was also accused of extorting money from teachers by promising them government teaching positions that he never fulfilled.
Despite breaking down in tears and pleading for mercy, his emotional display did not prevent his eventual arrest.
Masaka City Mayor Florence Namayanja attempted to defend Kakeeto, but the Masaka City RCC, Hudu Hussein, insisted that Kakeeto had failed in his duties.
Hussein emphasized that corrupt practices like these would no longer be tolerated.
“Kakeeto is among the few who give us headaches. His actions and conduct are extremely suspicious, so we are requesting a serious investigation into the education department,” RCC Hudu said.
Similarly, Sarah Nakyanzi, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Masaka, was grilled for allegedly evicting women who had been granted a development building.
Nakyanzi was accused of misusing her office to forcibly remove the women and take control of the building’s revenue, which reportedly exceeds Shs 3 million monthly.
When defending herself, Nakyanzi’s attempt to speak in broken English failed to impress the panel, leading to her arrest.
Residents of Masaka have raised additional complaints, particularly against health workers at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
The health workers are accused of extorting between Shs 120,000 and 200,000 for scans.
Swaibu Sula Mbaaya, a resident, appealed for immediate intervention, noting that such practices disproportionately affect the poor in Greater Masaka.
Hudu Hussein revealed that efforts to combat corruption in Masaka had been met with resistance and threats from influential individuals.
Rose Lilly Akello, the State Minister for Ethics and Integrity, acknowledged the deeply entrenched corruption in Masaka and vowed to recover stolen funds.
As part of this crackdown, several other government officials in Masaka have been arrested, including Wilson Kizza, in charge of social services in Masaka City; Ronald Mugerwa and William Muwanguzi, responsible for legal affairs; and key leaders in the Parish Development Model (PDM), such as John Baptist Matovu and Joseph Akuguzibwe. Willy Ssenkindu, the head of forestry, was also among those apprehended.