Two senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) have been arrested by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over allegations of soliciting bribes from asylum seekers in exchange for refugee status.
The arrested officials have been identified as Commissioner Patrick Okello and Assistant Commissioner Douglas Asiimwe, both attached to the Department of Refugees under OPM.
Their arrest follows investigations triggered by multiple complaints from refugee groups and humanitarian partners alleging widespread corruption, extortion, and irregularities in the refugee registration process.
According to sources, asylum seekers fleeing conflict and persecution were allegedly subjected to demands for illegal payments to facilitate registration and approval of refugee status. In some reported cases, individuals were allegedly required to present official travel documents, including passports, despite many fleeing war zones without such documentation.
Concerns have also been raised over the handling of applications involving asylum seekers from Somalia, Pakistan, Iran, and Syria, particularly in cases where applicants had overstayed expired visas while awaiting refugee determination.
Humanitarian actors and refugee advocacy groups have described the alleged practices as exploitative, warning that they undermine Uganda’s internationally recognised refugee protection framework.
Uganda hosts one of the largest refugee populations in Africa and has long been praised for its open-door policy. However, recurring allegations of corruption within refugee management systems have continued to raise questions about accountability and oversight.
The IGG is expected to provide further details as investigations continue, with indications that more officials could be implicated as the probe widens.
 have been arrested by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over allegations of soliciting bribes from asylum seekers in exchange for refugee status.){kind=link}