Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has revealed that his security has been reinforced as he leads an escalating nationwide crackdown on corruption in local governments, saying no threats will deter him from pursuing officials accused of stealing public resources.
The revelation comes as Barugahara and Minister of State for Local Government Justine Nameere intensify surprise inspections, public accountability meetings and investigations into alleged corruption involving the Parish Development Model (PDM), ghost workers, inflated school enrolment, absenteeism, procurement irregularities and abuse of office.
Speaking during one of the ministry’s anti-corruption engagements, Barugahara said the campaign is backed by President Yoweri Museveni and the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom he referred to as his chairman.
“I have a clear directive from the President to sort out local government, and from my chairman, the CDF. My security has been enhanced, and therefore, I will not fear anyone,” Barugahara said.
The statement offers the clearest indication yet that the ministers are operating under heightened security as they pursue a campaign that has already unsettled officials in several districts through unannounced inspections and investigations.
Barugahara says the operation is intended to dismantle entrenched corruption networks that have for years undermined service delivery, diverted public funds and denied Ugandans the full benefits of government programmes.
From Boardrooms to the Field
Unlike previous anti-corruption initiatives that relied heavily on audits and investigations conducted behind closed doors, the Local Government ministry’s current approach has placed Cabinet ministers at the centre of field operations.
Since assuming office, Barugahara and Nameere have travelled to districts to inspect schools, health facilities and local government offices, while holding public accountability meetings—commonly known as barazas—where residents are encouraged to report corrupt officials directly.
The ministry says the objective is not only to expose corruption but also to restore confidence in local governments by ensuring that taxpayers’ money reaches the communities for which it is intended.
The campaign was officially launched in Bulambuli District under the theme “Expose and Fight Corrupt Officials in Local Governments,” marking the beginning of what government says will be a nationwide accountability drive.
The Mbale Discovery
One of the operations that has attracted widespread attention was carried out during a visit to a government-aided primary school in Mbale.
According to Barugahara, ministry officials compared official enrolment records with the number of pupils physically attending classes and discovered a significant discrepancy.
“In Mbale, we visited a primary school where government records showed support for 1,386 pupils. However, when I counted the pupils in the classrooms, there were only 705. This must stop. The head teacher was arrested and handed over to the police,” Barugahara said.
The minister said inflated enrolment figures distort government planning and may result in the misallocation of public resources meant for learners.
The allegations are subject to ongoing investigations, and any criminal liability will ultimately be determined through the justice system.
No More Transfers for Errant CAOs
Barugahara also delivered one of the strongest warnings yet to Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), who serve as accounting officers in local governments.
For years, allegations have persisted that some officials accused of financial impropriety escape disciplinary action by being transferred from one district to another.
Barugahara says that practice must end.
“For Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), the practice of transferring officers from one district to another after wrongdoing will stop. If I come to Arua and find that you have committed an offence, you will be removed from the service,” Barugahara said.
The warning comes as accounting officers face increasing scrutiny over the management of government programmes, procurement processes and public finances.
In one of the ministry’s early interventions, the Chief Administrative Officer of Jinja District was recalled to the Ministry of Local Government headquarters to facilitate investigations following concerns raised by district leaders. The officer has denied wrongdoing.
Nameere: ‘The Law Does Not Permit Theft’
Nameere has strongly defended the ongoing operations, insisting that the ministry will not be intimidated by those seeking to frustrate investigations.
“We are aware of how thieves always hide behind the law. Before they accuse us of not following the law, let them first understand that the law does not permit the theft of public funds. Otherwise, we shall pursue them,” Nameere said.
Her remarks reflect the government’s determination to confront corruption in local governments, which oversight agencies have repeatedly identified as a major obstacle to effective service delivery.
Focus on Service Delivery
Beyond arrests and investigations, the ministers say the campaign is ultimately about improving the quality of services delivered to ordinary Ugandans.
The ministry argues that corruption in local governments has contributed to poorly equipped health facilities, struggling schools, delayed infrastructure projects and the misuse of funds intended for community development.
Particular attention has been placed on the Parish Development Model, one of government’s flagship poverty alleviation programmes. Barugahara has previously warned that officials who diverted PDM funds should refund the money or face legal action.
Through the nationwide barazas, citizens are also being encouraged to report ghost workers, absentee teachers, health workers who abandon duty stations, procurement irregularities and other forms of abuse of office.
A High-Stakes Campaign
The campaign has generated both praise and criticism.
Supporters argue that local governments have for years escaped meaningful accountability despite receiving billions of shillings in public funds annually.
Others have cautioned that while corruption must be confronted decisively, all suspects are entitled to due process and should not be presumed guilty before investigations and court proceedings are concluded.
The ministry insists it is committed to operating within the law while ensuring that public officials entrusted with taxpayers’ money are held accountable.
Whether the campaign ultimately leads to successful prosecutions, recovery of misappropriated public funds and lasting institutional reforms remains to be seen.
What is already clear, however, is that Barugahara and Nameere have signalled a dramatic shift in the ministry’s approach—one that combines public accountability, surprise inspections and direct political backing in an effort to confront corruption at the grassroots.
And if Barugahara’s latest declaration is any indication, the ministers believe they now have both the mandate and the security to see the campaign through.
“I have a clear directive from the President to sort out local government, and from my chairman, the CDF. My security has been enhanced, and therefore, I will not fear anyone.”
Museveni has previously explained why he appointed ‘Quarrelsome’ Justine Nameere and ‘Cantankerous’ Balaam as Local Government Ministers, as reported Here.
