IGANGA. The former Iganga District Chairman, Mr Ezra Gabula, has been ordered to refund Shs1.2m that he allegedly solicited from a primary school teacher with promise to help her get promoted.

The directive was made by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) in a letter addressed to Mr Gabula. The letter signed by the deputy IGG, Ms Mariam Wangadya, is dated May 17.

According to the letter, Gabula approached Ms Betty Bamuzibire, a teacher at Makandwa Primary School in 2013, and asked her to give him money so that he uses his position to influence the District Service Commission promote her as a head teacher following an advert that had been run in line with that promotion in the district.

The IGG letter revealed that Ms Bamuzibire lodged a complaint which was investigated and found Mr Gabula guilty. The IGG indicated that the conduct of Mr Gabula was unbecoming of a public officer because he contravened section 2E of the Anti-corruption Act, which prohibits a public officer from accepting gratification with a promise of exerting undue influence over someone in order to make a decision.

“ We carried out investigations which established that you irregularly obtained money from Ms Bamuzibire in order to help her get promoted which is illegal. You are therefore directed to refund the money to Ms Bamuzibire and provide us with proof of payment within 30 days or else you are prosecuted in courts of law,’’ the IGG letter read in part.

The letter further warned Gabula against more engagement in matters of that nature. Ms Bamuzibire was also asked to refrain from the habit of giving bribes to secure promotions in public office.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Gabula were fruitless because his known mobile phone numbers were off by press time.