The Electoral Commission has appointed Richard Baabo Kamugisha as its new Secretary, ending a period in which he had been serving in the acting capacity since late 2024.

Kamugisha took over the acting role after the former Secretary, Leonard Mulekwah, was suspended following allegations of financial mismanagement and irregular utilization of funds within the Commission.

Mulekwah’s suspension came after a report by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) accused him and other senior Electoral Commission officials of inflating fuel costs during election activities. The IGG findings pointed to possible financial mismanagement that raised concerns over accountability among senior officials of the Commission.

Kamugisha’s appointment comes less than two months after the country held general elections.

In a statement, the Electoral Commission said that as Secretary to the Commission, Kamugisha will serve as the Accounting Officer and head of the Commission’s technical wing responsible for management and administrative operations.

Kamugisha is a seasoned election management expert who has served at the Electoral Commission since 1999. Over the years, he has risen through the ranks, serving as District Registrar and District Returning Officer, Head of the Field Operations Department, and later Director of Operations.

According to the Electoral Commission Act, the Secretary to the Commission serves a five-year term, which is renewable once.