By Kenneth Wamatoyi
LUUKA
Luuka District Service Commission Chairman, Mr Paul Isabirye, is on the run following reports that he extorted Shs17 million from Ms Sylivia Baisemubaka, a clinical officer, who had applied for a job promotion.
Last week on Friday, 3rd January, 2025, the Police in Luuka district arrested one, George Mudhuli, the headteacher of Tabingwa primary school in Busalamu town council over the same fraudulent deal.
In the latest letter dated January 6, 2025, the Luuka district chairperson Mr Simon Wakaze, demands an urgent defense from the commission chief, Mr Isabirye, who is currently undercover.
“These are serious allegations and bring into question your integrity, character, and reputation as Luuka district service commission chairperson. As the tenets and principles of natural justice require, you are required to defend yourself against these allegations within seven days, not later than January 13, 2025,” reads part of Mr Wakaze’s letter to the commission chair whom he says appeared before the criminal investigations department at Kiyunga CPS to answer the charges.
Earlier in October 2024, Luuka district local government in the department of health advertised a vacancy of a senior medical clinical officer, attracting several applicants where Ms Sylivia Baisemubaka, a clinical officer at Ikonia health center III was among the candidates.
Claiming to be a relative [nephew] to Mr Paul Isabirye, the district service commission chief, Mr Mudhuli reportedly lured the applicant, Ms Baisemubaka that he would influence the commission boss to speed up the matter and score the goal.
“We discussed and Mr Mudhuli requested for two million shillings (shs2m) to take to his uncle to see that we are serious on the matter. He later called and gave me the good news that the chairman (service commission) agreed but he wanted fifteen million (shs15m),” Ms Baisemubaka stated in a petition to the speaker of Luuka district council.
Ms Baisemubaka said she collaborated with her mother Ms Edith Nsaiga to raise the shs15 million, making a total of shs17 million as asked by the embattled Mr Mudhuli, who is currently detained at Kiyunga Central Police Station (CPS).
“He later took me to him [Mr Paul Isabirye, district service commission chair] at his home at Buwala village in Irongo Sub County, Luuka district, and he accepted. He assured me of the position,” she added.
In her complaint, Ms Baisemubaka revealed that on Friday, October 4, 2024, shs2 million were given to Mr Mudhuli at Paradise Hotel in Kiyunga town council. The victim, her mother and the suspect’s wife only identified as Damali witnessed the process when Mr Mudhuli received the brown envelop.
She further claimed that on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, her parents, Mr Peter Baisemubaka and Ms Edith Nsaiga took shs13 million to Mr Mudhuli’s home located in Kiyunga central zone, Kiyunga town council in Luuka district, and received the money in the presence of his wife.
“On Thursday, October 24, 2024, in the morning, one million shillings was picked by Mr Mudhuli George and later in the day he called for an additional one million shillings in the evening and my mother took it, making a total of two million on the same day,” read her complaint in part.
Promotional interviews of the same vacancy which had earlier been scheduled for October 23, 2024, were later postponed to October 25, 2024. This is when Ms Baisemubaka learnt that the position she already paid for was given to another candidate and had allegedly received an appointment letter.
Shocked and frustrated, the denied applicant then embarked on demanding her shs17 million but the ‘clevers’ couldn’t vomit the shillings, according to the complainant.
“Since then, they have been promising till when I approached the district service commission chairperson and he told me to give him three weeks to clear but all in vain,” Ms Baisemubaka lamented.
She added that “Due to the sensitivity of the matter, I was intimidated and feared to report it to any office or official.”
She, however, gained confidence and reported the distressing matter to office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
Fearing legal action, Mr Mudhuli who acknowledged receipt of shs17 million in total, committed himself to pay back the money within seven days.
“I, Mudhuli George, commit to myself that I received money from Baisemubaka Sylivia worthy seventeen million to meet the chairman district service commission for a job and I didn’t give it to the chairman. I used it myself,” Mr Mudhuli said in a commitment letter dated December 23, 2024.
In the presence of the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), RDC Mr Ronald Katende and Assistant RDC Mr Umar Ntogona, Mr Mudhuli stated that “I haven’t got the money, so, therefore, I promise to pay it back within seven days from now.”
Notably, he was arrested on Friday, January 3, 2025, when he failed to meet the obligation. The RDC Mr Ronald Katende confirmed his apprehension, saying his office has since taken a significant step in fighting for justice of the victim.
“We have a number of corruption cases here in Luuka district, and it is so rampant in the service commission. We engaged Mr Mudhuli to write a commitment letter as concrete evidence,” Mr Katende said.
He said investigations into this matter are underway and the suspect will soon be arraigned in court.
This comes after the President directing that no suspect should be granted a police bond or court bail while charged with robbery, extortion, corruption and murder related offenses. This directive is reportedly implemented by respective authorities, especially the police force.
Last year, Luuka district service commission was suspended following rampant complaints of extortion and corruption, but the district council resolved that it should resume its operations after urgent needs of recruiting professionals in various departments.
Service commissions of several district local governments are known for extortion and corruption, with government jobs opportunities being sold between shs5 million and shs20 million.
The arrest of Mr Mudhuli serves as a wake-up call for the government to act against the alleged civil servants who take advantage of the young people in quest for public positions.
