By Angel Lubowa
The Head of SH_ACU, Brig Gen Henry Isoke, has urged Local Government leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and information sharing in the fight against corruption.
He made the call while interacting with Local Government leaders from Western Uganda at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi (NALI) under the theme, “Building Synergy to Eliminate Corruption in Local Government.”
He cautioned that corruption at the Local Government level directly affects citizens by diverting public resources, weakening service delivery and eroding public trust. He identified procurement and contract management, recruitment and payroll, public finance and local revenue, land administration, Government programmes and infrastructure as key areas requiring greater vigilance.
The General encouraged leaders to embrace synergy by working together, sharing information and taking joint action to close gaps that allow corruption to thrive. He urged political leaders to strengthen oversight, while technical officers should ensure proper management of public resources, accurate records and effective internal controls.
Brig Gen Isoke highlighted the ongoing “Expose the Corrupt National Campaign," championed by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, as an example of coordinated action against corruption. He commended Hon. Balaam for promoting a “whole-of-Government approach”, bringing together SH-ACU, DPP, ISO, the Ministry of Works and Transport, RDCs, councillors, citizens and other stakeholders.
He noted that the campaign is also driven by the directive of H.E. the President under the “No More Sleep, No More Corruption and No Tolerance for Non-Performance” message, urging all persons in positions of responsibility to embrace it and deliver on their mandates.
Brig Gen Isoke reported that the campaign has so far covered 18 districts and cities, resulting in 104 arrests, 30 suspects being arraigned in court and 48 case files compiled, involving an estimated UGX 15 billion.
He also commended the zero-tolerance stance against corruption by the CDF, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, noting that strong systems, transparency and accountability have contributed to strengthening the UPDF as a national institution.
The General challenged Local Government leaders to use their positions responsibly and ensure that Government programmes and resources translate into better services for citizens. He emphasised that fighting corruption is a shared responsibility and that stronger synergy among stakeholders is essential for protecting public resources, strengthening accountability and improving service delivery.
Brig Gen Isoke pledged his commitment, and that of SH-ACU, to supporting the fight against corruption in Local Government.
He thanked the Office of the President, particularly the Permanent Secretary, Haji Yunus Kakande, for inviting him to the retreat, which is being coordinated by Mr Willis Bashasha, Director of the Manifesto Implementation Unit. At NALI, Brig Gen Isoke was welcomed by the Director, Col Okei Rukogota.
