The Electoral Commission has denied reports that eight of its officials were sacked and are under probe over graft and corruption.

The eight include Sam Rwakoojo, the accounting officer who doubles as the Secretary to the Electoral Commission, Director Finance & Administrator Joseph Lwanga, Godfrey Wanyoto (head of procurement), Jotham Taremwa (public relations officer), Namugera Pontius (Information Technology director), Jordan Lubega (Administrator networks), Mr Musuza Charles and Edgar Kasigwa (data specialists).

The Inspector general of government yesterday confirmed that they are investigating 8 senior officers of electoral commission on at least four counts of illicit enrichment, corruption, flouting of procurement procedures and abuse of office.

“The IGG received a complaint with a number of allegations against officials in EC that had things to do with corruption and others but it’s until we investigate that we will find out if there is any truths in the complaint.” Ali Munira, the IGG Spokesperson told NTV on Wednesday.

“We received the petition on the alleged corruption at EC and investigations were sanctioned but we haven’t made any recommendations since investigations are on-going,” Munira added.

On Thursday, EC top bosses led by its Chairman Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama came out to dismiss the reports saying the eight officials had all sought early retirement which was granted.

According to our sister paper Daily Monitor, trouble started after EC officials rejected a ballot printing bid from a German firm, Veridos Identity Solutions GMBH. In 2016, the German firm signed a joint venture with Uganda Printing & Publishing Corporation (UPPC) to print money and handle other security printing deals.

Sources close to State House said Mr Rwakoojo and team were asked to give the ballot printing deal to UPPC and in the process of verification, they discovered Veridos has a big stake in the company.

EC officials told Daily Monitor that it was going to look awkward for the same company to be entrusted with transmitting the poll results.

The EC officials then wrote back to Veridos asking for details of ownership and expenditures of the company.

In the process, President Museveni also reportedly wrote to EC that the company has a bigger reputation beyond printing ballot papers, and is tasked with printing the national currency, passports and handling data verification for the country’s national ID.

“We had started but the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted our investigations,” he added.

Asked whether the President actually sacked the said EC officials, Mr Don Wanyama, the Senior Press Secretary to President Museveni, said: "I can't respond to that kind of information. If we have any information to put out, we know how to put it out."

When contacted last evening, Mr Taremwa and Mr Rwakoojo were attending different meetings and couldn't respond. But the President’s decision was communicated to the affected officials through EC chairman Justice Byabakama. He was also not available for a comment. Some of the affected officials, however, have threatened to challenge their sacking in the courts of law.