Uganda's Anti-Corruption Drive: 110 Local Government Staff Face Interdiction

Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, alongside junior minister Justine Nameere, is spearheading an extensive anti-corruption campaign across Uganda. This initiative has brought to light alarming issues within local government operations, leading to disciplinary actions against 110 staff members.

The crackdown, which has already visited districts like Moyo, Maracha, Mbale, and Sembabule, has uncovered a range of malpractices. These include the alleged existence of ghost workers and pupils in government schools, misappropriation of public funds, irregularities in procurement processes, and the substandard implementation of crucial infrastructure and service delivery projects.

Minister Barugahara revealed that several local government officials, technical officers, and frontline staff have been arrested, with others reportedly evading authorities. “We currently have 110 local government staff cases ongoing,” he stated, adding that the audit and investigation process requires more resources to expedite the proceedings. Notably, 19 staff members have already been referred to the anti-corruption court.

Examples of unearthed corruption include suspected ghost nurses at Busiu Health Centre IV in Mbale, where 10 phantom staff were identified in just two facilities. In Namisindwa, a head teacher allegedly inflated school enrollment by 342 ghost pupils, while a secondary school operated with over 600 students but lacked adequate sanitation despite receiving government funding.

Further revelations include Shs6 billion allegedly stolen from locals in Sembabule by officials who promised land titles, despite a presidential directive making them free. In Mitooma, funds allocated for the 2025/2026 road maintenance were reportedly swindled with no work completed, and a Shs47 million slaughterhouse was found to be worth only Shs7 million.

Minister Barugahara emphasized that the campaign aims not only to expose wrongdoing but also to ensure thorough documentation, investigation, and the initiation of appropriate administrative or legal processes to safeguard public resources and ensure citizens receive the services they are entitled to.

However, the campaign has drawn criticism from opposition figures and accountability experts, who question its necessity given existing anti-corruption institutions. They argue for strengthening these bodies, such as the Inspectorate of Government, and ensuring proper facilitation for the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary, rather than ministerial tours that could lead to legal challenges if not handled meticulously.

This source is from the Daily Monitor (Uganda).