The Inspectorate of Government (IGG) has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to suspend the Principal and Accountant of National Teachers’ College (NTC) Kaliro pending the resolution of their court case related to alleged financial mismanagement.
In a directive issued on Tuesday, the Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr Patricia Achan Okiria, instructed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda, to suspend Ms. Lanyero Evelyn Grace, the Principal, and Mr Okiria Clement Epalat, the Accountant.
The suspension comes after the two officials were charged with causing financial loss and abuse of office.
According to the IGG, the officers are implicated in irregular financial dealings, including the approval of over UGX 120 million in payments to a catering company for meals that were allegedly not provided.
Additionally, the officials are connected to a UGX 45 million loan acquired on behalf of the college without following proper procedures, leading to further financial loss.
Mr. Epalat is also accused of processing UGX 12 million in withholding tax payments to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) under suspicious circumstances.
The IGG emphasized that these public officers should remain suspended from their duties while the case is being heard in court to prevent interference with the investigation.
Ms Lanyero was arrested on May 23, 2025, and charged in the Anti-Corruption Court, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was released on bail and is scheduled to return to court on June 27, 2025.
Meanwhile, her co-accused, Mr Epalat, remains at large. The court has issued criminal summons for him to appear on the same date.
In its statement, the IGG said that the suspension of the accused officers is in line with Article 230(2) of the Ugandan Constitution and Section 13(6) of the IG Act, which allows for such actions when public officials are facing serious corruption charges
