Masindi District Vice Chairperson Sacked Over Missing S.6 Papers

Masindi District leadership has been thrown into early controversy after the removal of its Vice Chairperson over claims that he did not meet the minimum academic qualifications required by law, sparking debate about vetting processes in Masindi District.

The decision was confirmed during an extraordinary council meeting on June 11, 2026, where Chairperson Patrick Wobusobozi said Vice Chairperson Cleophas Bigirwa was found not to hold the required Senior Six certificate or its equivalent as required under Uganda’s Local Governments Act. He explained that the issue was uncovered during a routine verification exercise linked to payroll and document authentication.

Wobusobozi said the appointment had been made based on documents available at the time, but inconsistencies only emerged during later verification. Following Bigirwa’s removal, Bright Mugume, the councillor for Kimengo Sub-county, was appointed as the new Vice Chairperson and Leader of Government Business, alongside a wider reshuffle of key district positions.

The council meeting, however, exposed tensions, with Speaker Patrick Tibigambwa questioning how the oversight occurred in the first place. While the Chief Administrative Officer confirmed that the academic papers presented did not meet the required standard, critics argued that proper vetting should have prevented the appointment entirely.

Bigirwa has rejected the decision, insisting that he holds valid qualifications, including an equivalent Senior Four certificate and a certificate in public administration. He said he was properly sworn in and is now considering legal action, arguing that the process used to remove him damaged his reputation and bypassed proper verification procedures.

The incident has since triggered wider public concern over leadership screening and accountability in local government. Residents and community leaders say the controversy highlights weaknesses in the system, even as the council moves to stabilize operations through the approved reshuffle and new appointments.