By Angel Lubowa
Kampala
The Anti Corruption campaign geared to squarely put to force the presidential directive to fight Corruption when he was starting his new term 2026_2031 dubbed "Expose the Corrupt campaign " has not only taken the country by storm but also touched the mantle of this vice.
Launched in July this year and led by the Local Government minister, Hon Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi and his State minister ,Hon Nameere, the drive is gradually shocking the corrupt especially in Local Government into sense.
The effectiveness of the campaing lies in its collective encounters with all agencies of anti graft like the State House Anti Corruption Unit, police, Iso, office of the IGG and the local people which has brought about positive results.
According to its leader, Hon Balaam,after accepting to implement the presidential directive, they engage the citzens through Barazas ,invisitigate allegations, follow government projects and money and review all corresponding documentation and at the end they are able to find the gaps.
Agencies like the SH_ACU, police, IGG, ISO and DPP swuftly swimg into action to bring sanity into the identified flaws.
Balaam says this has been done in some parts of the country starting with Eastern region, Greater Masaka, Greater Ankole and else where and its on going.
According to statistics, this initiative ,over 120 Officials who have been implicated in corruption, negligence and abuse of office have been Interdicted to facilitate investigations and protect public resources.
As by 31st August 2026, 115 officials had been arrested, 40 acused persons had been produced before Court, 60 case files under investigation. The total value for all cases reported is estimated to be 15 Billion shillings.
“All those engaged in abuse of office and misusing public funds should stop it immediately. We shall arrest them because when President gives them money for infrastructural development, they should use it for the same, they shouldn’t charge parents money in Government schools.” Remarked Hon. Balaam Barugahara, the Minister for Local Government
He advised that , incase, the School heads in government aided schools find it inevitable to ask for some money, it should be a reasonable amount the same amount as top private schools in the country.
“More files are under investigations before the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). We don’t mind even if it means to remove 50,000 non performers from the Civil Service, we have many other qualified Ugandans eagerly waiting to fill those posts.”
He further promised that they are ready to work with other Government Agencies involved in fighting corruption to prevent stealing of government funds.
According to the report, the campaign has demonstrated that citizens are willing to speak up when given a platform and that corruption is often exposed through direct interaction with communities and inspection of projects.
State House Anti Corruption Unit promised to continue focusing on; Listening to citizens through Strengthening Barazas, community engagements and accessible reporting channels.
Secondly, Prioritizing financial reviews and verification of government expenditure, Increase physical inspection of roads, schools.
Also, to Increase on Physical Inspection of roads, schoolsfacilities and other public projects. Other means include; Strengthening technical audits, acting quickly, strengthening local oversight and closing system gaps .
Meanwhile the general public are becoming more and more supportive as they now feel government presence at the grass root.
If only other forces can begin to exert the same bite at higher level government institutions to curb the big fish then the presidential directive will gain a much more meaning other wise sofar it's so good at local levels.
