Minister Mao Appoints Mustapher Ntale to Lead URSB Amid Corruption Probe

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hon. Norbert Mao has appointed Deputy Registrar General Mustapher Ntale as the caretaker head of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

This decision follows a presidential directive that ordered five senior officials at the agency to step aside as investigations into alleged corruption and mismanagement take shape.

Under the new administrative arrangement, Ntale has been assigned to oversee the agency’s day-to-day operations and perform the duties of the Registrar General on an acting basis. He has also been instructed by Minister Mao to assign relevant officers to temporarily fill the positions of the other suspended officials.

The leadership changes stem from a directive by President Yoweri Museveni, dated July 24, 2026, ordering a comprehensive audit into the government agency.

The investigations, which are being led by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) with support from State House auditors, are focused on allegations of embezzlement of government funds, abuse of office, money laundering, maladministration, and institutional mismanagement.

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The decision to send the officials on “mandatory leave” instead of “interdiction” sparked debate on social media, with critics pointing out that officials on leave retain their full pay, whereas interdicted officials are subjected to half pay.

Addressing these concerns, Minister Mao clarified that he was strictly executing the President’s directive.

“I have some little knowledge of English and I’m sure the President knows the difference between ‘leave’ and ‘interdiction’,” Mao stated, emphasizing that the President’s letter specifically directed the officials to go on leave until the audit is completed. Mao added that the mandatory leave arrangement was implemented to allow investigators to do their work without paralyzing URSB’s critical daily operations, such as business and intellectual property registrations.