Bushenyi-March 5, 2026-Two people have died on the spot, and several others sustained injuries following a fatal road crash involving a passenger bus and a Toyota Noah along the Mbarara–Bushenyi Road in Rwentuuha Town Council, Bushenyi District.
The accident occurred when a Tausi bus that was travelling from Kampala to Bushenyi District collided head-on with a Noah vehicle carrying several passengers. The impact of the crash left three occupants dead instantly, while others were left with serious injuries.
Eyewitnesses say the collision happened in the evening hours, causing panic among road users and residents in the area. Residents rushed to the scene to help pull survivors from the wreckage before emergency teams arrived.
Police and rescue teams later transported the injured victims to nearby health facilities for medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the mortuary pending identification and postmortem examinations.
Preliminary reports suggest that the crash may have been caused by reckless driving, although investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the accident.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, especially along the busy Mbarara–Bushenyi highway, which has in the past recorded several road accidents.
More details about the identities of the deceased and injured victims are expected to be released after police complete their investigations.

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Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered the Departed Asians Property Custodian Board (DAPCB) to produce a complete inventory of all properties under its management, including those repossessed, valued or sold.

The directive came on Wednesday during a grilling session where Executive Secretary George William Bizibu appeared before COSASE to respond to concerns raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 30, 2024.

Lawmakers expressed frustration that, despite repeated government directives, the board still lacks a comprehensive asset register. COSASE warned that the absence of a verified list exposes properties to mismanagement, illegal allocations, and potential loss of revenue.

“The committee expects a full account of all properties, including those donated or allocated by the Minister, to ensure transparency and proper oversight,”COSASE members instructed.

The DAPCB is responsible for managing assets left behind by Asians expelled from Uganda in 1972, which include land, businesses and residential properties across towns like Kampala, Jinja, Masaka, and Iganga. Despite decades of management, audits reveal persistent gaps in documentation, record keeping, and verification of ownership, leading to disputes and allegations of misappropriation.

The Auditor General’s report highlighted that some properties already sold were still listed on the board’s books, while several government ministries and agencies occupying these properties have accumulated rental arrears amounting to billions of shillings.

COSASE members also raised concerns that some properties may have been transferred using questionable documents, including powers of attorney of dubious authenticity. Lawmakers warned that failure to maintain accurate records could result in costly legal battles and further compromise the board’s accountability.

Bizibu acknowledged the shortcomings but assured the committee that efforts are underway to compile a verified register and reconcile existing records. COSASE has set a deadline for the board to present the complete inventory, signaling that Parliament will maintain close oversight over these historically significant assets.

The scrutiny comes amid renewed calls for transparency and accountability in the management of departed Asians’ properties, which have long been entangled in legal disputes, contested ownership claims, and allegations of irregular disposals.

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Uganda’s anti corruption watchdog has warned that the nature of corruption in the country is rapidly evolving, moving from small scale bribery to more organized schemes that sometimes involve sophisticated networks operating beyond national borders.

Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluzze Batala said the changing character of corruption poses a new challenge to accountability institutions and requires stronger investigative approaches and coordinated action to effectively tackle the vice.

Batala made the remarks on Thursday while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala during her first press briefing since taking office, marking 100 days at the helm of the Inspectorate of Government.

She cautioned that corruption is increasingly becoming complex and in some cases socially tolerated, a trend she said could undermine efforts to promote integrity in public institutions.

“Corruption is no longer predominantly petty in nature. It is increasingly growing and becoming sophisticated, sometimes syndicated and in certain instances linked to cross border networks. In some cases it is also normalized or even glorified,” Batala said.

The Inspectorate of Government is constitutionally mandated to fight corruption, enforce the Leadership Code, investigate complaints against public officials and promote integrity in public service.

Batala, who was appointed by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in October 2025 and sworn into office in November, said she assumed office with a clear strategy aimed at strengthening the institution’s effectiveness in tackling corruption and maladministration.

Among the measures introduced are improvements in complaint registration systems, speeding up investigations, expanding the use of digital tools in case management and prioritizing high impact corruption cases.

She said investigators have also been directed to adopt prosecution led investigations and increase focus on financial crimes such as money laundering.

“This should be a warning to public officials out there. If we get you, our first action is to ensure that you are prosecuted,” Batala said.

According to the Inspectorate, a total of 1,516 complaints were registered between July and December 2025. Of these, 1,151 cases were sanctioned representing about 75 percent of the complaints handled during that period.

During the same period, the institution concluded investigations into 308 corruption cases and 330 Ombudsman-related complaints, including 14 high-profile corruption cases.

The Inspectorate also recovered more than Shs2 billion in misappropriated public funds and secured payment of over Shs844 million to public officers who had previously been denied or delayed salaries, pensions and gratuities.

Batala said the institution also carried out eight systemic investigations and seven systems reviews aimed at identifying structural weaknesses within public institutions that often create opportunities for corruption.

Disciplinary action has also been taken against several government officials following investigations by the Inspectorate.

Between January and February 2026, twelve public officers were dismissed from service, four including a Chief Administrative Officer were interdicted, three were reprimanded and one officer was demoted.

The Inspectorate also recovered nearly Shs90 million in unspent funds under the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project in districts supervised by the Moyo regional office.

Batala further revealed that she conducted oversight visits to regional Inspectorate offices in Kabale, Mbarara and Masaka and carried out spot checks at the regional referral hospitals in the same areas.

The inspections uncovered service delivery gaps including overcrowding in hospital wards, non functional medical equipment, shortages of essential medicines and allegations of extortion by some health workers. Three arrests were made following the inspections.

Despite the progress, Batala acknowledged that the Inspectorate continues to face operational challenges including limited staffing levels, gaps in specialized investigative skills, inadequate funding and an aging vehicle fleet that affects field operations.

She said these constraints come at a time when corruption cases are becoming more complex and often involve financial crimes and organized networks.

Going forward, the Inspectorate plans to intensify prosecution-led investigations and concentrate on high-impact corruption cases in order to strengthen deterrence.

Batala also pledged stronger collaboration with anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media to strengthen the national fight against corruption.

“Our goal is not only to enforce the law but also to strengthen systems and prevent corruption before it occurs,” she said.

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