VP Warns Against Illegal Arrests in Local Government Corruption Drive

Vice President Jessica Alupo has called for greater legal oversight of the ongoing anti-corruption campaign being spearheaded by the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahare, and his deputy, Hon. Justine Nameere, cautioning that all arrests must be legally sound to protect government from costly litigation.

Speaking on the campaign, which has seen the ministers traverse the country conducting impromptu inspections and publicly confronting officials accused of mismanagement, Alupo stressed that the Office of the Attorney General should provide legal support to the Ministry of Local Government.

“The Office of the Attorney General should support the ministers of local government legally to ensure that the arrests made are legitimate so that we can avoid unnecessary litigation against government at a later time,” she said.

Alupo emphasized that while the fight against corruption remains a government priority, it must be conducted within the confines of the law and established institutional mandates.

“Constitutionally mandated accountability institutions carry the primary responsibility for independent investigation, prosecution, enforcement of the law, and protection of due process,” she noted.

She added that collaboration among government agencies should not undermine the constitutional roles of institutions tasked with fighting corruption.

President Museveni’s delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo

“In working together, we must respect the boundaries of each institution so that our anti-corruption drive remains effective, lawful and credible,” the Vice President said.

Barugahare and Nameere have in recent weeks mounted an aggressive nationwide anti-corruption campaign, making surprise visits to local governments, publicly reprimanding officials accused of financial mismanagement, and ordering arrests in some cases.

Many of the operations have been conducted in the full glare of television cameras and shared widely on social media, drawing both praise from supporters and criticism from those questioning whether due process is being adequately observed.

Alupo’s remarks appear to highlight the need to balance the government’s determination to stamp out corruption with adherence to constitutional procedures, ensuring that enforcement actions withstand legal scrutiny while preserving the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign.