Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has appointed Deputy Registrar General Mustapher Ntale as caretaker head of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), following an order for five senior officials at the institution to step aside as investigations into alleged corruption and mismanagement get underway.
Ntale will assume the responsibilities of Registrar General on an acting basis, replacing Mercy Kainobwisho, who has been directed to step aside together with four other senior managers.
The changes follow President Yoweri Museveni’s directive for a comprehensive audit and investigation into allegations of graft, abuse of office and mismanagement at the government agency responsible for business registration, intellectual property services, civil registration and other statutory functions.
The temporary leadership arrangement is intended to ensure that URSB continues operating normally while investigators examine the allegations involving its senior management.
Ntale Takes Charge
Under the new arrangement, Ntale, who serves as Deputy Registrar General, will take charge of the bureau’s day-to-day operations and perform the functions of Registrar General during the investigation period.
His appointment provides an interim leadership structure at a time when the institution’s top management has been affected by the directive requiring senior officials to step aside.
The five officials affected are Kainobwisho, the Registrar General; Alex Anganya, Deputy Registrar General for Finance and Administration; Arthur Kwesiga, Commissioner for Information and Communication Technology; Gilbert Agaba, Commissioner for Business Registration; and Walid Kule, Assistant Commissioner for Business Registration.
Mao’s decision is aimed at preventing the ongoing investigation from paralysing the bureau, particularly given URSB’s critical role in registering companies and businesses and providing other essential services to the public.
Ntale is expected to coordinate the temporary management arrangements and ensure that the functions previously handled by the officials who have stepped aside continue without interruption.
Museveni Orders Probe
The management changes stem from a directive issued by President Museveni calling for a comprehensive examination of allegations surrounding the operations of URSB.
The investigation is expected to scrutinise claims of corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement, with the audit intended to establish whether there were breaches of procedure or misuse of public resources. According to the ministry, the decision to have the officials step aside was implemented in accordance with the President’s July 24 directive.
Mao has emphasised that the decision to send the officials on leave was taken before any formal interdiction and was primarily intended to create an environment in which investigations could proceed without interference.
The arrangement also allows investigators to examine the conduct and decisions of the affected officials without disrupting the normal delivery of URSB services.
The distinction between being placed on leave and being interdicted is significant because the current measure does not, in itself, amount to a finding of wrongdoing against any of the officials. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the affected officials will have an opportunity to respond to any specific findings arising from the probe.
Five Managers Step Aside
Kainobwisho, who has been serving as Registrar General, is among the officials temporarily removed from the bureau’s day-to-day management.
She is joined by Anganya, Kwesiga, Agaba and Kule, all of whom occupy senior positions covering key areas of URSB’s operations. The move effectively removes a significant portion of the bureau’s top management from active administrative duties while the investigations continue.
Their areas of responsibility include finance and administration, ICT and business registration—functions that are central to the operation of the institution.
The appointment of Ntale is therefore expected to provide continuity while alternative arrangements are made for the functions previously handled by the other affected managers.
The ministry is also expected to oversee temporary replacements or acting arrangements in the affected departments to ensure that URSB’s services remain available to the public.
Probe Comes Amid Growing Scrutiny
The investigation places URSB under heightened scrutiny over the manner in which its affairs have been managed. As a government agency, URSB handles sensitive registration and corporate information and is a key interface between government and businesses operating in Uganda.
Its services include the registration of companies and business names, intellectual property registration and administration, civil registration services and the maintenance of important public records.
Any disruption to its operations could therefore have implications for businesses, investors and members of the public who rely on the bureau’s services.
The decision to appoint an interim head is consequently designed to separate the investigation from the continued provision of services.
Mao’s intervention means that URSB will have a caretaker leadership structure while the audit and investigations establish whether the allegations against the institution’s management have merit.
No Verdict Yet
The government’s decision to send the officials on leave should not be interpreted as a final determination that they committed wrongdoing.
Instead, the measure is administrative and allows the authorities to conduct the investigation without the affected officials remaining in control of the institution.
The outcome of the probe will determine whether disciplinary, administrative or other action is warranted. For now, Ntale’s appointment gives the bureau an interim leadership arrangement as the government seeks answers to the allegations that triggered the investigation.
The coming weeks are expected to be critical for URSB as investigators examine its management, financial and administrative practices.
The government will also be under pressure to ensure that the probe is conducted transparently and fairly while protecting the integrity of URSB’s public services.
For URSB clients, however, the immediate priority remains continuity.
With Ntale now assuming the functions of Registrar General, the bureau is expected to continue registering businesses, processing applications and delivering its other statutory services despite the upheaval at the top.
The appointment therefore marks the latest development in a widening government effort to establish what happened at URSB and determine whether the allegations of corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement are substantiated.
Until the investigation is completed, the five officials remain away from their duties as the government relies on interim arrangements to keep the institution functioning.
For Ntale, the task is now to steer URSB through the turbulent period while ensuring that the institution’s operations remain stable and that the investigation can proceed without disruption.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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