As young people continue to get involved in the fight against corruption, allegations are swirling around on who ate how much of what. One of those people who have found himself having to offer an explanation is State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi.
An events promoter, radio owner and businessman, Balaam Barugahara is a staunch support of President Yoweri Museveni, his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, as well as a key champion of efforts for Museveni’s son, now Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to succeed his father as president. He is a key member of the first son’s Patriotic League of Uganda.
It is such loyalty to Museveni and his son Gen Muhoozi, coupled with his great marketing skills and the ease with which he mingles with young people that won Balaam Barugahara the confidence of the appointing authority that he was the right man for the job of junior minister for youth and children’s affairs.
Balaam Barugahara was appointed minister in a reshuffle in March 2024, which saw other pro-Muhoozi politicians such as MP Lillian Aber appointed ministers. Their boss, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was appointed Chief of Defence Forces as Museveni fired CDF Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi and his deputy Lt Gen Peter Elwelu and consoled them with a junior ministerial and advisory jobs, respectively. (See Details Here and There).
Minister Balaam Barugahara has largely considered himself a ‘clean’ man – sometimes cheering those demanding accountability. Now, one young man has prompted the junior minister to come out and respond to allegations that he awarded himself deals worth billions of Uganda Shillings.
According to Andrew Natumanya aka Ninye Tabz (formerly Tabz ku Camera), who formerly worked with now main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in the digital communications unit, Balaam Barugahara has allegedly awarded himself huge deals in the short period he has been junior minister for youth and children.
“For the few months Hon Dr Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi has been minister, he has already awarded himself deals that go to a tune of about 2.4 Billion Uganda shillings,” claimed Andrew Natumanya aka Ninye Tabz.
In response, Minister Balaam Barugahara dismissed the allegations made by Ninye Tabz as “entirely false and without merit,” saying that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGSLD) and the Parliament of Uganda had allocated his ministry any money to buy any item.
The minister accused Ninye Tabz of trying to tarnish his supposedly good image with “baseless” allegations that he chewed money or awarded himself multi-billion deals from the ministry where he is one of the political leaders.
“As a minister of State for Youth and children affairs, I have not awarded myself any deals, and I strongly deny any wrongdoing. My focus has been on serving the people and upholding the highest standards of integrity,” Minister Balaam Barugahara responded.
“The claim of 2.4 Billion Uganda shillings is baseless and intended to tarnish my reputation. I stand by my commitment to transparency and accountability, and I urge the public to disregard this unfounded accusation. My ministry was not allocated any funds to procure anything not even funds to buy a bicycle in year 2024/2025.”
Balaam Barugahara further made it clear that if his ministry was engaged in business, he would have gone through the right channels to take part since it is his right as a citizen of the republic to.
“Ministry of state for youth and children has no business. We don’t have funds for Youth day celebrations so stop your propaganda, Ninye. However, I wish there was business I would transparently and openly be interested in participation just like any other Ugandan!” he fired back.
As The Pearl Times has reported, Andrew Natumanya aka Ninye Tabz is the former Next Media Services employee who leaked the media group’s salary structure, showing how much staff at stations like NBS TV earn. He deleted the salary lists after his former boss Kin Kariisa promised to meet him and as Next Media Services issued a statement on the leaked salary structure. (Read Story Here).
Recently, while trying to urge young people to stay away from anti-corruption protests and embrace dialogue and peaceful demos, Minister Balaam Barugahara shared his personal experience with a protest at Makerere University where he led a strike and was dismissed, making him take more years to complete his BCom degree. (See Details Here).
