The Deputy Inspector General of Government, Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, has ordered Masaka District Human Resource Officer Kityo Mugagga to refund UGX 25,329,000 that he irregularly paid to a ghost pensioner, the late Joseph Henry Kyeyune.
Investigations by the IGG’s Masaka Regional Office found that, despite knowing Kyeyune had died in 2015, Mugagga altered his records and continued processing pension payments into Kyeyune’s Centenary Bank account, from which family members withdrew the funds.
“On December 16, 2019, three years after Kyeyune’s death, Mugagga irregularly requested the Ministry of Public Service to alter the deceased’s date of birth to secure additional retirement benefits. Pension payments continued for over five years,” the IGG’s statement noted.
Kyeyune, born on July 15, 1927, served in the East African Posts and Telegraph from 1950 until his retirement in 1984 as a Senior Technician. His pension was later placed under Masaka District Local Government payroll following decentralization in 2015/2016.
Despite a requirement for annual life certificates to confirm pensioners are alive, Mugagga ignored the rule. By February 2022, Kyeyune was removed from the payroll after irregular payments totaling UGX 32,472,989. At the time of the IGG inspection in March 2022, a balance of UGX 7,143,989 remained recoverable from the bank.
The Inspectorate ruled that Mugagga’s actions violated Section 18(1) of the Pensions Act, Cap 89, which states that pensions cease upon a beneficiary’s death. He was found guilty of abuse of office, gross negligence, and failure to perform his duties.
In addition to refunding the money, Mugagga is expected to appear before the Masaka District Service Commission for further disciplinary action.
