news 21 October 2026 Nile Post

Kigezi Leaders Applaud Minister's Upcoming Corruption Probe

Local government officials and residents in the Kigezi region have expressed approval for Minister Balaam Barugahara's impending visit to investigate corruption allegations. The visit aims to address issues ranging from ghost workers on the payroll to concerns about infrastructure and market management. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/380365/kigezi-leaders-welcome-balaams-planned-visit-to-probe-local-government-corruption

Leaders and residents in the Kigezi sub-region are welcoming the forthcoming visit by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara, who is set to begin an investigation into alleged corruption within local government structures. This initiative is seen by many as a long-overdue step towards accountability.

The planned anti-corruption drive coincides with ongoing investigations by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) into potential payroll fraud, specifically concerning ghost employees within the Kabale District administration.

In response to these allegations, the Kabale District Chief Administrative Officer, Robert Mugabe, has mandated a physical verification of all staff as part of the new Human Capital Management (HCM) system. Mugabe confirmed this measure is intended to combat corruption and rectify payroll discrepancies, noting that the IGG is already examining a list of 42 alleged ghost pensioners.

The district is undertaking its own internal verification process to identify and halt any illegal payments to ghost pensioners. This, along with cleaning up the payroll for both active employees and retirees, is expected to significantly curb financial leakages and safeguard public funds that have been exploited by certain civil servants.

Minister Balaam’s nationwide tour has previously led to the arrest and interdiction of numerous local government officials for accountability failures across various sectors, including public works, education, and healthcare.

Residents of Kigezi, including notable figures like Can. Jack Katarishagwa and Syson Mwebaze, have urged the Ministry of Local Government to scrutinize issues related to pension payments, infrastructure projects, and the allocation of market stalls at Kabale Central Market. They also highlighted the need for fair compensation processes for market stall owners.

Kabale District reportedly employs over 4,000 civil servants, a number that has drawn attention following previous audits and validation exercises conducted by the Auditor General’s office on government entities. Minister Barugahara’s visit presents a critical opportunity for the region to voice its concerns and demand greater transparency and accountability from its local government authorities.