Adolf Ayoreka | Tayari News
BUSHENYI – The chairperson of the Public Service Commission has declined to approve three members of the Bushenyi District Service Commission (DSC) citing irregularities in their nomination process.
The decision was made in a letter dated March 30th 2026, signed by Agnes Winnie Musoke Kabogoza, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, addressed to the Bushenyi district chairperson, following a petition that was filed by Western Ankore Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
According to the petition by WACSOF Executive Director Apollo Kakonge, established laws and procedures for nominating members of the DSC were not fully adhered to in the district council’s appointment of the three DSC members.
The three names included Denning Barahuka, who had been nominated as the chairperson of the committee, Rehema Kyomuhendo and Edward Kamuza Bahengana.
“While the law requires that the DSC shall be appointed by the district council on the recommendation of the district executive committee with the approval of the Public Service Commission, it has come to our knowledge that the district executive committee was not involved in any deliberations regarding the three names” The petition reads partly.
It adds, “There is information that has come to public knowledge through a leaked audio recording indicating that before and after the consideration of the appointment of Dening Barahuka as chairperson of the DSC and his colleagues on December 18th, 2025, the LCV chairperson Jaffari Basajabalaba and some members of the district council accepted bribes, in contravention of the laws of this country.”
The petition further requested the Public Service Commission to intervene and give special attention to allegations of corruption and contravention of section 59 of the Local Government Act in the appointment of the members of the DSC.
This website has further established that after the petition, the public service commission responded and wrote to Chief Administrative Officer for Bushenyi district in a letter dated February 13th, 2026 signed by the secretary of the commission John Geoffrey Mbabazi, requesting her to submit a certified copy of the minutes of the district executive committee meeting held on December 17th 2025 signed by all district executive members who attended and signed copy of the attendance list.
The same petition from WACSOF was copied to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, which swung into action by carrying out an investigation where some of the members of the council were summoned and interrogated before being released on police bond.
Some of the members of the district who are alleged to have received bribes and were interrogated by investigators from State House Anti-Corruption Unit included, Douglas Mucunguzi, the District Speaker, Didas Ihoza, the Secretary for finance, Anna Kajojo, the Secretary for Production, Edward Mpabwa, the Secretary for Education and Karuhanga Doreen, the clerk to council.
It is further reported that since the intervention of the State House Anti-corruption (SHACU), some top members of the district have been on the run, including Jaffari Basajabalaba, Chairman of the LCV, who has spent about two weeks without surfacing in the district.
When contacted, Mariam Natasha, the SHACU Public Relations Officer on whether the unit is looking for Basajabalaba, she hesitated to comment on the matter but rather maintained that investigations are ongoing.
Public Service Commission findings
In a letter dated March 30, addressed to the LCV chairperson of Bushenyi district after carrying out investigations, found that the purported District Executive Committee meeting alleged to have been held on December 17th was irregular.
That CAO, who is the head of the public service in the district, accounting officer and a technical advisor, did not attend the meeting nor delegate, yet she was in the office that day.
“There is a contradiction in the district executive committee minutes submitted. The irregular meeting was held on December 18, instead of December 17, as indicated in the minutes. And the rules of procedure of holding district council meetings were not followed as required by the law.” The letter reads partly
However, on the corruption and bribery allegations, the letter indicates that it was not possible to obtain proof of the allegations in the process of approval of nominees by the district executive committee and council.
“In view of the mentioned observations, members of the commission declined to consider submission of nominees for the district service commission from the Chief Administrative Officer of Bushenyi, dated December 22nd, 2025, with accompanying minutes of the district executive committee and the application forms of Denning Barahuka, Rehema Kyomuhendo and Edward Kamuza Bahengana” The letter reads
It further advised the council to nominate new members and submit them for approval by the Public Service Commission, in accordance with the law and procedures stipulated in the Local Government Act.
END