Museveni Sends Top Security Officials on Forced Leave Over CCTV Corruption Probe

President Yoweri Museveni has shaken Uganda’s security establishment after ordering three senior officials to take six months’ forced leave to allow investigations into alleged corruption linked to the National CCTV and Command Centre project.

The directive affects Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; Mr. Aggrey Wunyi, the Under-Secretary of the Uganda Police Force; and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Felix Baryamwitsakyi.

In a strongly worded letter dated May 23, 2026, and received by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on May 28, 2026, President Museveni stated that the officials are under investigation for alleged corruption and extortion connected to the maintenance of the national CCTV system.

The letter, addressed to the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Ms. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, revealed that the investigations were triggered by a whistleblower report submitted by the Minister for Internal Affairs, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire.

According to the report, Dealan Associates Limited, a local company owned by Ugandan scientists, was allegedly denied payment after refusing to pay bribes demanded by officials within the Ministry and the Police Force.

“At some point, there was no budget to pay them. Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and secured Shs31.37 billion. However, the Ugandan contractor was not paid because ministry officials, through a middleman identified as Hassan, demanded bribes,” part of President Museveni’s letter reportedly stated.

The President directed that Ms. Barbra Katisi, representing Dealan Associates Limited, be paid immediately, while the alleged middleman, Hassan Serunjogi, should face criminal charges if investigations find sufficient evidence.

The National CCTV project was expanded rapidly following a series of high-profile assassinations and rising urban crime between 2017 and 2019, including the killing of former Arua Municipality MP Ibrahim Abiriga.

President Museveni explained that Chinese technology company Huawei had initially supplied the road surveillance cameras.

However, after the company faced sanctions from the United States and the European Union in 2019, Huawei reportedly partnered with Dealan Associates Limited to handle local maintenance, repairs, and operations of the security system.

The delay in payments to the local contractor has raised concerns about the effectiveness and maintenance of Uganda’s multi-billion-shilling surveillance infrastructure.

The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) has now been assigned to investigate Lt. Gen. Musanyufu, Mr. Wunyi, and AIGP Baryamwitsakyi over the next six months.

Copies of the presidential directive were also sent to Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Internal Affairs Minister Kahinda Otafiire, and the Inspector General of Police.

President Museveni further instructed Ms. Nakyobe to immediately appoint an acting Permanent Secretary to ensure that operations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue smoothly during the investigations.

Attempts to obtain comments from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the affected officials were unsuccessful by press time.