Mayuge headteacher sentenced to 12 months for embezzling Shs 176m

The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala has sentenced Ramadhan Ngobi, headteacher of Nakazigo primary school in Mayuge district, to 12 months in prison for embezzling Shs 176 million earmarked for classroom construction.

According to the prosecution, Ngobi, 58, withdrew the funds from the school’s bank account, which were intended for constructing two classroom blocks and a five-stance latrine. Instead, he diverted the money for personal use.

Presiding over the case, grade one magistrate Christopher Opit found Ngobi guilty of both embezzlement and abuse of office. He was sentenced to 12 months for embezzlement and 6 months for abuse of office.

The sentences will run concurrently. In addition to the custodial sentence, Ngobi has been barred from holding any public office for 10 years and has been ordered to refund the embezzled Shs 176 million.

The funds are to be deposited into the Inspectorate of government’s asset recovery account held at the Bank of Uganda. Corruption and embezzlement continue to plague Uganda’s public education sector, severely affecting service delivery and learning outcomes.

A 2021 report by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) on the extent and cost of corruption in the education sector revealed that up to 18% of education grants, equivalent to approximately Shs 244 billion annually are lost to embezzlement.

The report further noted that the overall cost of corruption in the education sector exceeds half of the national government’s annual spending on education.

“Losses due to embezzlement of the public budget not only drain financial resources but also have in-kind costs for learners through reduced education quality. When public officials steal or divert funds and materials meant for schools, students ultimately receive less,” the report stated.

In response to these findings, the ministry of Education, the IG, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit have in recent years stepped up efforts to combat corruption in the education sector.

These efforts have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of several headteachers and government officials implicated in embezzlement schemes. Just this week, the principal of Kaliro National Teachers’ College was arrested on charges of embezzlement, abuse of office, and causing financial loss to the government.

This follows another high-profile case involving several headteachers in Ntungamo district who are accused of inflating student numbers to siphon government funds.