education 24 July 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Two Imposter Teachers Arrested in Kyotera After 15 Years of Alleged Payroll Fraud
Authorities in Kyotera district have apprehended two individuals for allegedly defrauding the government by posing as qualified teachers for over a decade. The suspects are accused of manipulating the payroll system to receive salaries without proper credentials. Source: https://observer.ug/news/two-quack-teachers-arrested-in-kyotera-over-fraudulently-receiving-govt-salary-for-15-years
Kyotera district officials have arrested two men, Charles Sseruwu and John Kavuma, on suspicion of impersonating teachers and fraudulently receiving government salaries for approximately 15 years. The alleged scheme unfolded at Kakunyu Primary School in Kabira sub-county.
The investigation was reportedly initiated by a whistleblower who raised concerns about the duo’s academic qualifications. According to Lawrence Ssekyondwa, the Kyotera District Education Officer, Sseruwu is believed to have assumed the identity of Joseph Kabazzi, a legitimate teacher who had been removed from service due to mental health issues. Sseruwu, allegedly a relative of Kabazzi, continued to draw his salary.
In Kavuma’s case, preliminary findings suggest he was irregularly recruited and placed on the government payroll without possessing the minimum required academic qualifications for a teacher. Investigators have reportedly recovered documents such as appointment letters and posting instructions that raise suspicions.
Officials confirmed that payroll records indicate Sseruwu was paid under Kabazzi’s name. The chief finance officer for Kyotera district, Robert Kyambadde, stated that Kavuma’s employment is suspected to have been secured through forged documents. The authorities are also investigating how the headteachers failed to properly vet the credentials of these individuals.
The alleged fraud may have its roots before Kyotera became a distinct district, with the suspects joining the payroll when the area was still part of Rakai district. This incident brings to mind a 2016 audit in Rakai that identified numerous ghost and unqualified employees on the district’s payroll.
The arrested suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities are also working to recover the salaries allegedly misappropriated over the last decade and a half. This case has prompted calls for a more rigorous verification process for civil servants within the district.