Overview:
Dr Gerald Banaga-Baingi and legal affairs chief Lelia Bwambale face interdiction as investigations into alleged maladministration and financial mismanagement begin.
The Inspectorate of Government has ordered the interdiction of National Mining Company Chief Executive Officer Dr Gerald Banaga-Baingi and Chief Corporate and Legal Affairs Officer Lelia K. Bwambale to pave the way for investigations into alleged maladministration, financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
In a directive issued on Thursday, the Inspectorate instructed the company’s acting board chairperson, Ms Maria Kiwanuka, to suspend the two officials from exercising their powers and functions pending investigations into the allegations.
The directive cites Article 230(2) of the 1995 Constitution and Section 13(6) of the Inspectorate of Government Act as the legal basis for the intervention in the public interest.
“The interdiction is intended to facilitate investigations into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, and abuse of office involving the two officials,” the Inspectorate said in a statement.
Ms Kiwanuka was also directed to make interim arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted performance of the responsibilities previously handled by the two officials while the investigations proceed.
The Inspectorate did not disclose the specific acts under investigation or provide details of the alleged financial and administrative irregularities.
However, the directive comes amid reports of governance challenges at the state-owned company, including alleged procurement and recruitment irregularities, financial mismanagement and claims that some board members influenced the appointment of their relatives.
The allegations are reported to have widened divisions between the company’s board and executive management, prompting the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to conduct an audit of the institution.
Reports have also indicated that some board members declined to attend sessions related to the investigations, raising further concerns about accountability and cooperation within the company’s leadership.
The latest intervention adds to a series of leadership changes at the National Mining Company, which was established to safeguard government interests in the mining sector.
Less than two years after its establishment, the company has lost its pioneer board chairperson, James Mukasa Ssebugenyi, who resigned, while his deputy, James Byakagaba, was removed from office.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development announced the changes on September 24, 2026, describing them as part of efforts to address governance and management challenges at the company.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Dr Monica Musenero subsequently appointed Ms Kiwanuka as acting board chairperson and tasked her with helping address the institutional challenges and support the company’s recovery programme.
The latest directive places the company’s executive leadership under further scrutiny as the investigations seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
The National Mining Company is expected to play a strategic role in securing government participation in the mining industry and advancing Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions under Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan and the Tenfold GDP Growth Strategy.