news 17 August 2026 Nile Post
Budaka Officials Offer to Turn State Witnesses in Corruption Probe
Several Budaka District officials arrested for alleged corruption have requested to become state witnesses, pledging cooperation with investigators to expose a wider syndicate. The move comes after their admission of being used in corrupt schemes involving infrastructure and public services. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/364496/budaka-officials-plead-to-become-state-witnesses-in-corruption-probe
A number of Budaka District officials, currently detained on corruption charges, have formally requested to be recognized as state witnesses. They have reportedly admitted to being manipulated within a syndicated corruption scheme and are willing to cooperate with investigators.
State Minister for Local Government, Justine Nameere, confirmed that the officials submitted a written request expressing their commitment to provide information and evidence. This cooperation aims to shed light on the operational details of the alleged corrupt network. “This is what we mean by expose the corrupt and clean up the government, we dig to the core,” Nameere stated.
The minister made these remarks following a four-day intensive investigation in Budaka. The operation involved a team of state investigators from the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), the Inspectorate of Government (IG), and other anti-corruption bodies, under the “Expose the Corrupt” campaign.
Last week, at least five district officials were apprehended. Among those arrested are the District Health Officer, District Education Officer, District Engineer, and the in-charge of Budaka Health Centre IV, Winfred Mutaki. They face accusations of corruption and negligence.
Minister Nameere indicated that these officials have agreed to furnish the police with evidence that could identify other individuals involved in the alleged scheme. “Officials confessed that they were used,” she revealed, also hinting at the potential involvement of some local leaders, though no names were disclosed pending further investigation.
The current probe is scrutinizing infrastructure projects across roads, health, and education sectors, including a health facility project valued at approximately Shs645 million. The investigation also uncovered a suspicious ‘ghost position’ within the district, where a supposed employee’s role was recorded despite no one occupying it, with documents allegedly being signed by another individual.