A storm is brewing at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development following revelations that Principal Communication Officer Solomon Muyita may have fraudulently secured his position using falsified academic credentials.
An investigation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), triggered by a whistleblower report, uncovered that Muyita allegedly presented forged qualifications and concealed a tainted employment history to gain entry into the public service.
According to findings by the IGG, Muyita applied for the role in 2021, submitting documents indicating he held a Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Makerere University, supposedly conferred in January 2019. However, official records obtained from the university contradict this, showing he actually graduated in February 2023 two years after his appointment.
This discrepancy suggests that Muyita did not meet the minimum qualifications required at the time he was hired, in breach of the criteria set by the Public Service Commission. The position demanded both a relevant honors bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate qualification, which Muyita did not legitimately possess during his application.
The IGG has deemed his actions an attempt to fraudulently advance within the government and flagged potential violations of both administrative regulations and criminal law. Specifically, the use of forged documents for public service employment is addressed under the Public Service Standing Orders and the Penal Code Act, both of which allow for criminal prosecution and disciplinary consequences.
Beyond academic misrepresentation, the IGG probe also revealed that Muyita had previously been dismissed from British American Tobacco Uganda over misconduct related to financial mismanagement and gross negligence a history he reportedly failed to disclose.
The Deputy IGG, Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe, issued a formal directive dated April 28, 2025, instructing the Ministry of Energy to refer Muyita to the Public Service Commission for appropriate disciplinary measures. The Ministry was required to update the IGG on action taken within 14 days, although it’s unclear whether that deadline was met.
When contacted, Dr. Patricia Litho, Assistant Commissioner for Communication in the Ministry, said she was unaware of the directive and pledged to follow up with the Permanent Secretary. She clarified that Muyita was posted to the Ministry from the Judiciary in 2021 and that the Ministry itself does not handle recruitment.
Meanwhile, sources within the Ministry suggest that Muyita may have quietly vacated his position in recent weeks to avoid further scrutiny, although this has not been officially confirmed.
The IGG’s findings have cast a spotlight on the integrity of the public service recruitment process and raised pressing questions about oversight and accountability. More developments are expected as the PSC responds to the directive.
Our efforts to speak to Solomon Miyita to clear the allegations were futile by press time.
