Parish Chief Charged Over Extortion from Job Applicants
A Parish Chief in Mitooma District has been charged before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court over allegations of soliciting bribes from job seekers.
Owarimpa Esther, who served as the Parish Chief of Ruhehe North Parish in Kabira Sub-County, was arraigned by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit working jointly with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). She has been remanded until April 27, 2026.
According to the prosecution, Owarimpa allegedly engaged in corrupt practices between October 2025 and January 2026 while stationed at Mitooma District Local Government offices. It is alleged that she solicited and received millions of shillings from several job applicants, claiming she could influence the District Service Commission to secure them employment.
Investigators say the suspect misrepresented her authority and exploited desperate job seekers by promising to manipulate the recruitment process in their favour.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to crack down on corruption in public service recruitment, particularly at the district level.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has repeatedly condemned the sale of government jobs, especially by District Service Commissions, warning that such practices undermine merit-based recruitment and weaken public service delivery.
He noted that corruption in hiring not only breeds inefficiency but also slows national development. The President has urged members of the public to report individuals involved in such schemes and provide evidence to support investigations and prosecutions.
Authorities say investigations into similar allegations across other districts are ongoing.
