By Peter Luzinda
KAMPALA
President Yoweri Museveni has ordered three senior officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Police Force to take forced six months leave as investigations unfold into an alleged Shs31 billion bribery scandal linked to Uganda’s national CCTV surveillance programme.
The directive issued on Thursday, 28th May, 2026, targets Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Mr Aggrey Wunyi, the Under-Secretary of the Uganda Police Force; and Assistant Inspector General of Police Felix Baryamwitsakyi.
The move represents one of the most high-profile actions taken against senior security administrators in recent years and signals growing pressure within government to address corruption allegations involving major public security projects.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigations say the three officials were asked to step aside to allow anti-corruption agencies and security investigators to conduct inquiries without interference.
The investigations reportedly centre on allegations that billions of shillings connected to the procurement and implementation of the CCTV surveillance system may have been improperly handled through irregular approvals, inflated transactions, and suspected bribery arrangements.
Authorities are also said to be examining possible abuse of office and violations of procurement procedures involving contracts awarded under the surveillance programme.
The CCTV project was rolled out by government as part of an ambitious national security strategy aimed at combating urban crime, strengthening intelligence gathering, and improving police response capabilities.
The initiative gained momentum after Uganda experienced a series of high-profile assassinations, armed robberies, and terrorism-related incidents that exposed weaknesses in surveillance and investigative systems.
Thousands of cameras were eventually installed across Kampala Metropolitan areas, highways, municipalities, and strategic public locations under a project that cost the government hundreds of billions of shillings.
Security agencies have frequently defended the project, arguing that the cameras have helped solve numerous criminal cases by tracking suspect movements and providing crucial evidence to investigators.
Police officials have in the past pointed to CCTV footage in investigations involving murders, kidnappings, bomb attacks, and organised criminal gangs.
Despite these achievements, the surveillance programme has remained controversial because of questions surrounding procurement transparency and the large sums of public money invested in the system.
Critics have repeatedly accused government agencies of using national security classifications to shield sensitive procurement contracts from public scrutiny.
Parliamentary accountability committees and anti-corruption campaigners have also previously raised concerns about possible inflated costs and weak oversight in security-related procurements.
The latest scandal now threatens to deepen public debate over how security funds are managed and monitored within government institutions.
According to sources close to the investigations, preliminary findings raised red flags over certain transactions and procurement decisions linked to the CCTV programme, prompting intervention from the highest levels of government.
President Museveni’s directive is widely being interpreted as an attempt to demonstrate seriousness in handling corruption allegations involving influential state officials.
Lt. Gen. Musanyufu is among the most senior figures within Uganda’s Internal Affairs system. Before his appointment as Permanent Secretary, he served as Commissioner General of Prisons and held several influential positions within the country’s security structures.
Mr Aggrey Wunyi, as Under-Secretary of the Uganda Police Force, oversees key administrative and financial operations within the police institution and is regarded as one of its top civilian administrators.
AIGP Felix Baryamwitsakyi has also held strategic assignments within the Uganda Police Force and has been associated with operational and intelligence-led policing activities.
The forced leave of the three officials has already generated intense discussion within political, legal, and security circles, with observers describing the case as a major test for Uganda’s anti-corruption efforts.
Uganda has over the years witnessed multiple corruption scandals involving public infrastructure, health, and security projects, many of which triggered public outrage but resulted in limited prosecutions.
Civil society organisations and accountability activists have frequently criticised what they describe as selective enforcement in the fight against corruption.
Analysts say the CCTV scandal could become politically significant because it directly touches one of government’s flagship security programmes and involves highly placed officials in sensitive institutions.
Investigative agencies expected to handle the matter include the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, the Criminal Investigations Directorate, and the Inspectorate of Government.
Legal experts say investigators will likely focus on procurement records, contractor payments, authorisation procedures, and communication between officials involved in the project.
There is also speculation that additional officials or private contractors connected to the CCTV system could come under scrutiny as investigations progress.
By Friday evening, none of the officials named in the scandal had publicly responded to the allegations or issued statements regarding the President’s directive.
Government spokespersons had also not yet released a detailed official communication outlining the exact accusations under investigation.
Nevertheless, the developments have intensified public interest in the management of security-related contracts and renewed calls for stronger accountability mechanisms within government agencies handling large public expenditures.
As investigations continue, many Ugandans will be watching closely to see whether the case leads to criminal charges and meaningful accountability or joins the long list of unresolved high-profile corruption scandals that have dominated the country’s political landscape in recent years.
