SCHOOL DRIVER FOUND DEAD AMID MISSING SHS300M POLLS CASH

DAILY MONITOR

Residents in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District, are reeling from the heartbreaking news of a school driver who was found dead at his home in what appears to be a tragic suicide.

Family members and neighbours say this incident reportedly stems from immense pressure he faced concerning missing funds linked to the January 2026 general election.

Joseph Kiguli, a school driver at Little Muheji School located along Hoima Road, had been serving as secretary of a mechanics’ savings group under the government’s Emyooga programme. He had reportedly come under pressure after Shs300 million allegedly went missing.

Residents said the deceased had recently received threats from unknown individuals demanding accountability for the missing funds, which residents have linked to his death.

The deceased’s father, Mr Stephen Sserunkuma, didn’t provide details about the missing funds but confirmed that his son had been under persistent pressure from members of the mechanics’ association.

“We last spoke at around 10 pm on the night before his death. He sounded disturbed and said he had issues at the office. He told me some people were threatening him and planning to tarnish his name as secretary,”  Mr Kassim Kasasa, chairperson of mechanics savings group in Nansana Municipality, said.

Mr Kasasa added, “In the morning, I received a frantic call informing me that he had died. It was shocking because he had been open about the group’s activities. I believe the threats from unidentified members could have pushed him to this point.”

He further said, “He told us some individuals were warning him that he would be killed. There was also confusion among members about whether the group had actually received the funds or not, which created mistrust and misunderstanding.”

The source of the Shs300m in question and details of how the money disappeared, however, remain a mystery as the police dig into the driver’s death. Some family members who spoke to the Monitor ruled out suicide and called for investigation into Kiguli’s death.

Ms Tracy Nabakooza, a woman councillor in Nansana Municipality and the deceased’s wife, told Daily Monitor that her husband appeared distressed the night before his death, but didn’t know what the issue was.

“We last spoke at around 11 pm. He asked for tea before we went to bed, but he seemed disturbed. When I woke up, he was not in the house,” she said.

Her husband’s lifeless body was discovered on Monday, suspended from a tree in their compound.

Police rushed to the scene, retrieved the body and immediately commenced investigations into the incident. Preliminary findings point to suicide, but authorities say all possibilities are being examined.

“We have launched investigations into the matter. Early indications suggest suicide, but we are gathering more evidence to establish what exactly happened,” a police officer at the scene who didn’t want to be quoted because he is not authorized to speak to the media said.

Another resident said the deceased had also been battling health challenges, including diabetes, which may have worsened the alleged stress.

Mr Joseph Mugabe, the Nansana Municipality Mayor, described the deceased as “a transparent and accountable leader” who had previously served as a youth leader.

“What led to his death shows that he had respect for people’s money. He would not have taken his own life if he did not value accountability. If he had misused the funds, he might still be alive. His death suggests that there were challenges he faced that did not end well and eventually led to this tragic outcome,” Mr Mugabe said.

Mr Mugabe also called for greater accountability and support systems within community financial groups, noting that the incident highlights the need for transparency and proper communication.

“In government, there are individuals who misuse such amounts and treat the money as insignificant. They lack respect for public funds. However, we strongly condemn the circumstances surrounding his death, and we do not support suicide. He should have sought help. Whenever one faces problems, suicide should never be the solution,” he said.

Residents and family members have called for thorough investigations into both the death and the circumstances surrounding the alleged loss of the funds.