EC Gambles on Kamugisha as Dossier Exposes Mismanaged Billions, Weak Policies, Questionable Deals & An Outdated 2013 ICT System
New EC Secretary Kamugisha
A shocking audit into the operations of the Electoral Commission has laid bare a catalogue of financial and administrative failures that have thrown the country’s election managers into fresh controversy.
The explosive findings from the latest report by the Office of the Auditor General for the financial year 2025 reveal that the electoral body has been operating under weak policies, questionable financial decisions and delayed reforms, raising concerns about whether those entrusted with managing Uganda’s elections are properly doing their job.
The audit shows that the Commission entered the financial year already weighed down by domestic arrears amounting to UGX10.49 billion as of July 1, 2024. Although the Commission managed to settle UGX9.28 billion, representing 88 percent of the arrears, a balance of UGX1.21 billion remained outstanding by June 30, 2025, raising fresh questions about financial discipline within the institution responsible for managing the country’s democratic process.
The report indicates that despite receiving significant funding for its strategic objectives, serious governance gaps persist. The Commission’s Strategic Plan, whose cost estimate stood at UGX1.77 trillion, was funded at 95 percent, with UGX1.76 trillion realised during the implementation period. Yet auditors say the Commission had still not finalised a new draft strategic plan aligned to the National Development Plan IV by its commencement date of July 1, 2025, resulting in delays in aligning the institution’s operations with national priorities.
“This delayed alignment undermines effective planning and implementation of the Commission’s mandate,” the Auditor General’s report states.
Even more alarming was the discovery that the Electoral Commission lacks a formal policy to guide the management of election materials, an issue that experts say could expose the country’s electoral process to risks ranging from logistical confusion to accountability gaps.
Auditors also uncovered serious weaknesses in the Commission’s technology governance. According to the report, the draft Information Technology policy had remained unchanged since 2013, leaving the institution operating with outdated digital management guidelines.
The policy, auditors say, only offers general IT planning guidelines and lacks detailed procedures for task execution, does not provide guidance on data retention periods, fails to outline protocols for archiving and accessing historical election data, does not establish technical criteria for onboarding IT vendors, and lacks provisions related to environmental considerations.
“These weaknesses limit the Commission’s ability to properly manage its information systems and safeguard electoral data,” the audit notes.
The report also raised concerns about how the Commission handled funds allocated to political organizations. During the financial year, the Commission transferred UGX44.99 billion to fund activities of political parties across the country. However, auditors found that there was no standard reporting guidance on how the parties should submit budgets and accountabilities, making it difficult to ensure transparency or compare financial information among the beneficiaries.
Another troubling revelation concerned delays in procurement approvals. Auditors discovered that four procurements worth UGX2.16 billion took between 27 and 32 days to receive clearance from the Solicitor General’s office after submission.
In an even more controversial development, the Commission paid UGX26.2 billion to the National Housing and Construction Company Ltd without a contract or proportionate deliverables, raising red flags about accountability for public funds.
Auditors further noted that no contract manager had been appointed to supervise the works that had already been paid for, leaving billions of shillings exposed to possible misuse.
Financial management within the Commission also came under scrutiny. Out of total warrants amounting to UGX556.37 billion, the Commission spent UGX470.64 billion, representing an absorption level of 85 percent. While seven outputs worth UGX89 billion were fully implemented, six outputs worth UGX325.78 billion were only partially implemented, raising questions about whether taxpayers received value for the massive expenditure.
EC GAMBLES ON KAMUGISHA AS SECRETARY
These audit revelations emerge against the backdrop of years of turbulence inside the Electoral Commission’s leadership.
Ahead of the 2021 General Elections, the institution was rocked by a major purge when the government dismissed its long-serving Secretary Sam Rwakoojo following corruption allegations.
President Yoweri Museveni reportedly ordered the removal not only of Rwakoojo but also several other senior officials including Jotham Taremwa, Pontius Namugera, and Godfrey Wanyoto, in a dramatic shake-up at a time when the country was preparing for national elections.
Rwakoojo was later succeeded by Leonard Mulekwah, but the controversy did not end.
In October 2024, Mulekwah was sent on forced leave amid similar corruption allegations after the Inspectorate of Government reportedly implicated him and other senior officials in questionable financial practices, further eroding public confidence in the Commission.
The crisis deepened in January 2025, when Mulekwah and five other senior election officials were suspended to pave the way for investigations into alleged financial mismanagement and irregular utilization of funds.
But as the dust settled, it became clear Mulekwah’s days at the Commission were effectively over.
In a fresh leadership twist, the Electoral Commission has now gambled on a new secretary.
The Commission recently announced the appointment of Richard Baabo Kamugisha as the new Secretary effective March 4, 2026, after he had been serving in an acting capacity since late 2024.
“The Electoral Commission has appointed Richard Baabo Kamugisha as its new Secretary effective 4th March 2026,” the Commission said in a statement issued on March 10, 2026.
As Secretary, Kamugisha becomes the Accounting Officer and head of the Commission’s technical wing responsible for overall management of the institution.
“As Secretary to the Commission, Kamugisha is also the Accounting Officer and the Head of the Technical Wing (Management) of the Commission,” the statement explained.
Kamugisha is no stranger to the Commission. Having joined the institution in 1999, he has risen through the ranks serving as District Registrar and District Returning Officer, Head of Field Operations Department and Director of Operations.
“A very experienced and distinguished election management expert, Kamugisha has served the Electoral Commission since 1999,” the Commission noted.
Under the Electoral Commission Act, the Secretary serves a five-year term renewable once.
Yet his appointment has already stirred debate within governance circles.
Sources within the election management fraternity say Kamugisha was part of the previous management teams under both Rwakoojo and Mulekwah, raising concerns about whether the Commission is genuinely reforming or simply recycling insiders.
“Some people feel the Commission should have looked outside the institution for new leadership,” one source familiar with the internal dynamics told Red Pepper. “The new Secretary has been part of the previous corrupt system.”
In the aftermath of the 2026 general elections, analysts warn that the issues highlighted by the Auditor General must be addressed urgently if the Commission is to restore public confidence.
“The Electoral Commission sits at the heart of Uganda’s democracy,” a governance expert observed. “If the institution managing elections struggles with policy gaps, financial management and internal accountability, the implications are serious.”
For now, all eyes are on the Commission’s new leadership to see whether the latest gamble on Kamugisha will stabilize the institution — or whether the storm exposed by the Auditor General will deepen.
Watch this space!
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This is a useful way to lay out the problem. The same input can behave differently over time, which is easy to forget.
It is deeply alarming that an institution tasked with safeguarding the democratic process is still operating with an outdated 2013 ICT system and weak internal controls. Receiving that much funding should come with absolute transparency and proper planning, not excuses.
It is deeply concerning that despite receiving trillions in funding, the Electoral Commission is still struggling with basic accountability and relying on outdated systems. How can the public have confidence in upcoming elections when logistical and financial management is in such disarray?
It’s deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy is plagued by such glaring financial mismanagement and outdated systems. Serious accountability and immediate reforms are needed before public trust in our electoral process is completely eroded.
It is deeply concerning that an institution entrusted with such significant public funds still operates with outdated systems and lacks basic policies for managing election materials. Urgent reforms and real accountability are needed to restore public trust in the electoral process.
How can an electoral body funded to the tune of over a trillion shillings still rely on outdated 2013 ICT systems? Serious reforms and strict accountability are urgently needed to restore public trust.
It is deeply alarming that an institution tasked with safeguarding our elections is still plagued by basic financial mismanagement and outdated systems. When trillions in public funds are involved, the lack of transparency and proper planning is completely unacceptable.
It is deeply concerning that an institution trusted with managing the country’s democratic process is still struggling with basic governance, financial discipline, and outdated systems. Without urgent reforms and real accountability, public trust in future elections will only continue to erode.
It is deeply concerning that an institution entrusted with safeguarding democratic integrity is still plagued by basic financial mismanagement and outdated systems. If the Electoral Commission cannot even properly manage its own budget and materials, it seriously undermines public confidence in upcoming elections.
It’s deeply concerning to see billions allocated with so little accountability and still relying on outdated systems. How can the public have confidence in upcoming elections when basic financial discipline and material management policies are lacking?
It is deeply concerning that an institution handling something as critical as national elections is still plagued by basic financial mismanagement and outdated systems. There needs to be real accountability and urgent reforms to ensure transparency and restore public trust.
It is deeply concerning that an institution trusted with managing the democratic process is still relying on an outdated 2013 ICT system and struggling with basic financial discipline. Without immediate accountability and genuine reforms, public trust in future elections will continue to erode.
It is deeply troubling to see such glaring financial and operational failures in the very institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy. Without urgent reforms, proper accountability, and modernised systems, public trust in future elections will continue to erode.
It is deeply concerning that an institution entrusted with safeguarding democracy is struggling with basic financial accountability and running on outdated systems. Receiving nearly the full budget yet failing to establish clear policies for managing election materials demands immediate answers.
It is deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy is plagued by such glaring administrative and financial failures. How can the public have confidence in upcoming elections when the Commission can’t even maintain basic accountability and modern systems?
It is deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding the democratic process is plagued by such glaring financial and administrative gaps. Without urgent reforms and real accountability, public trust in future elections will continue to erode.
It is deeply concerning that an institution entrusted with the country’s democratic process still relies on outdated systems and lacks basic management policies. There needs to be real accountability and urgent reforms before the next elections.
It is deeply alarming that an institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy is still relying on an outdated 2013 IT system while receiving trillions in funding. With so much public money at stake, the lack of accountability and basic policies for handling election materials is simply unacceptable.
It is deeply concerning that an institution trusted with the nation’s democracy is running on outdated systems and struggling with basic financial accountability. When trillions of shillings are involved, there should be zero tolerance for this level of mismanagement.
It is deeply concerning that an institution trusted with managing national elections is still plagued by outdated systems and basic governance failures. If such massive budgets can be mismanaged with virtually no formal accountability policies in place, it really undermines public confidence in the electoral process.
It is truly alarming to see such widespread financial mismanagement and outdated systems within an institution as critical as the Electoral Commission. If they cannot properly manage basic logistics and their own budget, it severely undermines public trust in the entire electoral process.
It is deeply concerning that an institution responsible for our democracy is still running on an outdated system with zero clear policy for managing election materials. With so much funding allocated, there really is no excuse for this level of financial mismanagement.
It is really alarming to see such massive governance gaps and outdated systems at an institution responsible for overseeing elections. How can the public have full confidence in the democratic process when basic financial discipline and material management policies are so clearly lacking?
It is deeply concerning that an institution handling trillions of shillings still lacks basic policies for managing election materials and relies on outdated systems. There needs to be real accountability for these leadership and financial failures before the next election cycle.
It is deeply concerning to see billions allocated while basic operational policies and modern ICT infrastructure are still lacking. If the Electoral Commission cannot manage its own internal finances and planning properly, how can the public trust them to oversee credible elections?
It is deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy receives trillions in funding yet still relies on outdated systems and lacks basic operational policies. Without serious accountability and immediate reforms, public trust in the electoral process will continue to erode.
It’s deeply concerning that an institution trusted with running national elections is still struggling with basic financial discipline and relying on outdated systems. If they can’t even finalize a proper strategic plan after receiving trillions in funding, how can the public have confidence in their operations?
It is deeply troubling to see an institution responsible for safeguarding our democracy operating with such weak oversight and outdated systems. With trillions in public funds at stake, there must be genuine accountability and immediate reforms before the next elections.
Operating on an outdated 2013 system without formal policies for managing election materials is completely unacceptable given the massive budget the commission receives. There needs to be real accountability and urgent reforms if the public is to have any confidence in upcoming elections.
Operating on an outdated 2013 ICT system while mismanaging billions of shillings is completely unacceptable for an electoral body. How can the public have any confidence in future election outcomes when basic financial discipline and internal oversight are this broken?
It is deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding our democracy is still plagued by basic governance issues and an outdated ICT system. With trillions allocated, the public deserves far greater transparency and accountability from the Electoral Commission.
It is deeply concerning to see billions allocated with so little accountability and outdated systems still in place. For an institution vital to democracy, transparent management and serious reforms are urgently needed.
It is deeply concerning that an institution trusted with safeguarding the democratic process is still relying on outdated systems and mismanaging billions. Without genuine accountability and basic operational policies in place, it becomes very difficult for the public to maintain confidence in upcoming elections.
It is deeply concerning that an institution tasked with safeguarding the country’s democratic process is plagued by outdated systems and financial mismanagement. If the Electoral Commission cannot properly govern its own internal operations and materials, it seriously undermines public confidence in future elections.