Kabale, Uganda: Police in Kabale District have arrested five individuals, including three National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) assistant registrars, for allegedly soliciting bribes during the ongoing registration exercise.
The arrests were conducted on the afternoon of 16th October 2025 in Butanda and Kahungye Sub-counties following multiple complaints from members of the public.
The suspects have been identified as Kwesiga Erias, NIRA Assistant Registrar, Joseph Saali and Simpson Mugisha, suspected brokers arrested at Kinyamali COU Compassion Centre with Shs 485,000 in their possession and Kukundakwe Halima and Kwesiga Ronald, both Assistant Registrars arrested at Rubaya Church of Uganda Compassion Centre in Kahungye Sub-county with Shs 86,000 allegedly collected from applicants
Police report that another suspected broker, identified only as Milda, believed to have been acting as a cook for the registrars while receiving bribes on their behalf, fled the scene with additional money.
According to initial reports, applicants were allegedly being charged between Shs 10,000 and Sha12,000 to access services meant to be free of charge.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi region Police Spokesperson says that the operation sounds as a strong warning to other officials who may be engaging in similar acts.
Maate said that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court upon completion of inquiries.
