In trouble: Nicholas Mugabi
Wakiso District Local Government has opened investigations into alleged wetland degradation and misconduct in Katabi, Bwerenga, Kasenyi and Kajjansi.
The inquiry follows accusations of corruption, extortion, abuse of office, torture and unlawful detention against Nicholas Mugabi, an environmental officer responsible for Kajjansi.
The allegations were raised in a petition submitted to Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara on August 27, 2026, by Joseph Kazibwe, a businessman and resident of Kajjansi in Katabi Town Council.
A truck back-filling a wetland in Kajjansi
In response, Wakiso District Chief Administrative Officer Bukenya Jude Mark, in a letter dated September 16, 2026, directed the Wakiso District Planner to appear before Parliamentary Police and provide information relevant to the inquiry.
“You are required to come with all the relevant documents related to the investigations,” Bukenya said.
The district planner appeared before Parliamentary Police on September 21, 2026.
Kazibwe told the minister that residents in the area, which is largely low-lying and borders a swamp, regularly suffer flooding during the rainy season. He attributed the alleged environmental degradation to suspected collusion involving environmental officers, town clerks and police officers.
“I am a resident of a resident of Kajjansi, Katabi Town Council, a business man in the area where I was born and lived for over 20 years. This area is majorly a low-lying area bordering a swamp and the residents are most times affected by floods especially during rainy seasons. For the time I have spent in this area, I have observed massive corruption in the area, largely geared by environmental enforcement officers attached to this area in collaboration with town clerks and police. Hon Minister, a case in point is Mr Mugabi Nicholas, who is the Environmental officer attached attached to katabi and kajjansi town council. The above Mugabi Nicholas who is in charge of protecting the environment has turned it a habit of conniving with environmental degraders, by extorting money from them to allow them build in wetlands. If anybody is uncooperative with him, he confiscates all construction materials and takes them to his home, sells most of them and keeps some of them with the town clerk at Kajjansi Town council A case in point, the said Mugabi Nicholas took two car batteries belonging to a one Kazibwe Joseph c/o tell 0747281342 from his factory and kept them with town clerk until he paid him 300,000 through his guard and he is still demanding more 200,000 from him. The said Mugabi Nicholas also solicited for 1,000,000 from Mr Walusimbi John c/ o tel 0753593961 to allow him continue constructing. When he failed to raise the said amount, his construction materials were also impounded and sold,” part of Kazibwe’s petition reads.
Kazibwe further alleged that Mugabi issued notices to people carrying out construction and withdrew them after receiving payments.
“He issues threatening notices and when you pay him, he immediately withdraws and allows construction to proceed. Hon Minister, there are so many other people around kajjansi-katabi area who have suffered the corruption of the said Mugabi Nicholas but have nowhere to report him because the man is untouchable, he has full support of the Chief Administrative Officer of Wakiso District and police. As a result of his corrupt operating methods, this area has been heavily degraded and it is us the dwellers suffering the effect.”
Kazibwe also claimed that efforts to seek help from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit had not produced results.
“Several people like John Owinyi Mukisa, C/O Tel 0759143657/0772460867 who is a resident of this area reported him to police, state House Anti-corruption unit, but nothing is done yet citizens continue to suffer in the hands of Nicholas Mugabi who claims to be a very big person in this country,” Kazibwe added.
The petition further includes allegations that residents and brickmakers were detained and tortured. Ntale Wasswa claimed Mugabi maintained holding facilities where workers were kept until they paid money or complied with his demands.
“He has his cells where he detains brickmakers until you pay him. This place his where he tortures people, and stores our impounded wheelbarrows and other working tools,” said Ntale.
Wasswa said he was allegedly tortured for working in the area and that police declined to record his complaint.
“I was tortured for working here. I went to police but I haven’t got any help. They declined to take our statement,” said Ntale.
Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire urged anyone who believes their complaint was mishandled at Kajjansi to seek the intervention of the regional police office in Nateete.
“Nateete where the region is can look into their matter and have all the files consolidated and investigated at once. If you were tortured, that is a case of assault. You can still report the matter to the Region for further investigations,” Owoyesigyire said.
Meanwhile, alleged victims continue to call on Minister Balaam Barugahara to intervene and help them recover property they claim was confiscated.
“Minister Balaam, come and help us. He (Mugabi) asks for Money yet he doesn’t return our impounded work tools,” said Lulibe Wilberforce.
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