Museveni Endorses Ministers' Community-Based Anti-Corruption Drive

President Yoweri Museveni has thrown his support behind the unconventional anti-corruption efforts of Local Government ministers Balaam Barugahara and Justine Nameere. He defended their approach, which involves direct community engagement and inspection of government programs, stating it is a necessary response to persistent complaints from citizens about corruption.

These grievances, according to the President, range from alleged theft in government initiatives and the illicit sale of local government positions to the inflation of payrolls with “ghost” learners and teachers. Museveni emphasized that the frequency and intensity of these complaints, which he personally encountered during recent campaigns, indicate that the ministers’ fieldwork is not based on guesswork.

The President has also urged the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to expedite the review of evidence gathered during these inspections and to promptly prosecute those implicated. He highlighted issues such as irregularities within the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the notorious “ghost” employees in public institutions.

Museveni’s endorsement comes amidst a growing debate about the ministers’ methods. While some praise their direct approach for bringing accountability to communities, others, including some Members of Parliament and professional bodies like the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, have raised concerns about due process and the potential for public “trials by media.”

The President acknowledged these criticisms but argued that the ministers’ strategy of engaging directly with the public, bypassing what he termed a “blockade” by corrupt elements within the elite, is effective. He contrasted this with past instances where, despite evidence, decisive action was not taken.

Museveni concluded by reiterating that corruption is indeed stoppable and urged both public officials to cease shielding their colleagues and citizens to actively report wrongdoing. He called for a swift and decisive response from the DPP’s office to effectively prosecute corruption cases. The public’s enthusiastic participation in the ministers’ activities, he noted, is reminiscent of the early days of the NRM, suggesting a renewed public engagement in tackling corruption.

This article is based on reporting from The Observer (Uganda).