Five senior officials of the Electoral Commission (EC), including its Secretary Leonard Mulekwah, have been suspended amid allegations of gross financial mismanagement and maladministration.
The suspensions follow a directive from President Yoweri Museveni to EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, ordering a cleanup of the commission after a dossier detailed irregularities within the institution.
Key Suspensions and Allegations
Leonard Mulekwah confirmed his suspension in an internal memo to Byabakama and his deputy, Hajat Aisha Lubega.
He cited allegations of irregular disbursement and misuse of public funds. Mulekwah, who returned from a 58-day leave on January 9, 2025, said he vacated office effective January 13 to facilitate investigations.
However, he did not formally hand over his responsibilities, arguing that the acting secretary during his leave, Richard Kamugisha, had not returned office instruments.
The other suspended officials include:
- Fredrick Tibakuno: Kampala Regional Officer
- Umar Kiyimba: Head of Election Management
- George Kyeyune: Head of Internal Audit
- Abdu Kibesi: Former Head of Finance and Acting Director of Finance (suspended before his contract expired in November 2024)
Financial Irregularities and Internal Investigations
The suspensions were triggered by allegations that Mulekwah and his team disbursed approximately UGX 1.09 billion to regional offices at the end of the 2023/2024 financial year instead of returning it to the Consolidated Fund.
Regional offices reportedly retained 15% of the funds and returned UGX 864.2 million to the EC headquarters.
However, three regional offices—Masaka, Soroti, and Albertine—allegedly did not receive funds, sparking further suspicion.
An internal probe led by acting EC Secretary Richard Kamugisha is underway. The investigative team, comprising senior EC officials, is reviewing documents and recording statements from the suspended staff.
Previous Mismanagement and Power Struggles
This is not the first time the EC has faced internal upheaval. Mulekwah was initially appointed in an acting capacity in 2020 after the dismissal of former Secretary Sam Rwakoojo and several senior officials over allegations of awarding an unqualified company a ballot printing contract.
Mulekwah’s tenure as Secretary, confirmed in October 2021, has been marked by allegations of micromanagement and internal conflicts.
During a 2024 retreat, Mulekwah faced accusations of sidelining senior staff, including the dismissal of Joseph Lwanga, former Director of Finance and Administration, and James Niwamanya, Head of Human Resources.
Niwamanya, who opted for early retirement, claimed he was falsely accused of robbery and harassment to tarnish his reputation.
EC’s Position and Future Elections
While EC Chairperson Byabakama has declined to comment, EC spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi acknowledged the suspensions but withheld further details.
The suspensions come at a critical time, as the commission prepares for the 2025/2026 general elections, including an update of the voters’ register beginning next week.
The fallout from these suspensions has raised concerns about the commission’s ability to conduct fair and transparent elections, with investigations ongoing and tensions within the institution escalating.
