Four teachers, including the head teacher of Arengesiep Secondary School in the Nabilatuk District, were arrested in July 2026 after being found in a state of intoxication while on duty. The operation was led by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Linos Lotem Tumkori, and his deputy, Jimmy Tebanyang Lokoru, with the active support of the Uganda Police Force.
Investigation Into Alleged Fraud
During the surprise inspection, officials uncovered significant discrepancies between the school’s registered learner numbers and those physically present on the premises. While school records indicated an enrolment of 394 students, a headcount confirmed that only 229 learners were in attendance.
Apart from drinking during working hours, the school management is also exaggerating student enrolment. During our inspection, the Senior Five and Senior Six classrooms were empty, yet the enrolment records indicated that students were present.
RDC Linos Lotem Tumkori noted that the falsification of attendance records appeared to be a deliberate attempt to manipulate administrative data. The arrested staff members are currently being held at the Lolachat Police Station as formal investigations continue.
Broader Regulatory Scrutiny
This incident occurs amid a nationwide push by government officials to address administrative malpractice within public schools. Authorities have intensified monitoring of government-aided institutions to combat issues such as teacher absenteeism, unauthorised fee collection, and the creation of so-called “ghost pupils” to secure excess funding.
Maintaining accurate enrolment data is essential for the transparent allocation of state resources and educational materials to schools in the Nabilatuk District. Officials are expected to provide further updates regarding the future of the school’s management following the conclusion of the police inquiry.