President Yoweri Museveni has defended the ongoing field inspection tours by State Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahare and his deputy Justine Nameere, saying their direct engagement with citizens is helping expose corruption that has often been shielded by officials.
In a statement on Wednesday, Museveni dismissed concerns that the ministers could be “Kutomera” — blindly stumbling into problems — arguing that the widespread and persistent nature of corruption makes their approach necessary.
Museveni said he had personally received complaints about corruption during the recent campaign period, including allegations involving the Parish Development Model (PDM), forcing him to interrupt campaign activities to address some of the concerns.
He also cited complaints from elders in Bunyoro regarding the alleged sale of local government jobs, as well as reports of “ghost” learners and teachers in government schools and health facilities.
“The challenge now is for the DPP to have a dedicated officer that can quickly assess the abundant evidence against these criminals so that they are prosecuted,” Museveni said.
The President identified what he described as two major obstacles in Uganda’s fight against corruption: alleged cover-ups by officials responsible for protecting public interests and the failure of influential citizens with access to decision-making centres to report wrongdoing.
According to Museveni, the ministers’ decision to hold public barazas has helped bypass what he called a “blockade” created by elements within the elite who protect corrupt actors.
“The main problems on the issue of corruption have been two: the cover up by the responsible officials that should be protecting national interests and the failure to report by the elite that have access to the decision-making centres,” he said.
Museveni, however, noted that some members of the elite have acted patriotically, citing Hon. Byamukama, whom he said exposed a racket of extorters operating within State House.
He said the suspects were reported to him, after which authorities set a trap that resulted in their arrest.
“This corruption in Uganda is stoppable,” Museveni said, urging government officials not to conceal corruption and citizens to report cases they encounter.
The President also recalled assigning former Minister for Local Government Raphael Magyezi to follow up corruption complaints raised by citizens. Although Magyezi visited some of the affected areas, Museveni said decisive action appeared not to have followed.
He contrasted this with the public response to the current anti-corruption tours by Barugahara and Nameere, saying the large crowds attending their meetings demonstrate growing public enthusiasm for direct accountability.
Museveni said the approach reminded him of the early years of the National Resistance Movement, when large numbers of citizens voluntarily attended public meetings without requiring the provision of food, water or other incentives.
The President’s remarks come amid heightened public attention on corruption allegations in government institutions and renewed calls for stronger enforcement against officials accused of mismanaging public resources.
