Our Reporter | ALEBTONG — Concerned parents, residents and whistleblowers in Alebtong District have petitioned the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, seeking his intervention into alleged corruption and mismanagement involving headteachers and district officials.
In a two-page petition, the concerned citizens allege that some government-aided schools inflated pupil enrolment figures to obtain higher capitation grants, while other claims implicate district officials in an alleged cattle restocking compensation scam.
30 schools allegedly inflated pupil numbers
The petitioners claim that at least 30 of Alebtong’s 76 primary schools deliberately exaggerated enrolment figures to benefit from government capitation grants.
They allege that on August 12 and 13, 2026, some headteachers recalled pupils who had been sent home over unpaid fees, paraded them during a headcount and allegedly sent them home immediately after the exercise.
“We want Minister Balaam to compare the counting of pupils conducted on August 12 and 13, 2026, in all the 76 primary schools in Alebtong with Term One enrolment records,” one of the lead petitioners said.
The petitioner further urged authorities to establish whether pupils were moved from their original schools merely to inflate numbers during the headcount.
A parent who requested anonymity accused some headteachers of manipulating enrolment figures to increase capitation grants and called on Hon. Balaam and State Minister for Local Government Hon. Justine Namere to investigate the allegations.
“Why should they not be arrested for hiking the number of pupils simply because they want capitation grants to increase for their own benefit?” the parent asked.
Another petitioner, who also requested anonymity but said he was ready to testify, claimed that pupils sent home over school fees were recalled, counted and then instructed not to return to school after the exercise.
Alleged illegal school charges
The petition also raises concerns over alleged illegal charges in one government-aided school in the Lango sub-region.
According to the petitioners, the headteacher of the school allegedly increased Primary Seven fees from Shs250,000 to Shs350,000 and introduced an additional Shs100,000 charge per term for what was described as “school beds” for P7 pupils.
Parents are also allegedly being charged Shs10,000 per term for latrine construction, which the petitioners say contravenes government guidelines on Universal Primary Education (UPE).
Cattle compensation programme questioned
The whistleblowers have also raised allegations concerning the cattle restocking compensation programme in Alebtong.
They allege that some beneficiaries were not residents of Alebtong but were allegedly included in the programme through arrangements involving senior district officials.
The petitioners want Minister Balaam to physically verify beneficiaries in Akura, Abia, Omoro and Angeta sub-counties.
Okuja Mohammed of Abia Sub-county specifically accused some district officials of allegedly inserting friends and relatives from neighbouring districts into the programme.
A senior civil servant who signed the petition claimed to have documents and a list of beneficiaries he believes were fraudulently selected. The official said he was willing to testify despite fears that doing so could cost him his job.
“I want to be on record before Minister Balaam to explain why Alebtong is among the top five most corrupt districts in Uganda,” the civil servant said.
Whistleblowers threaten to camp ahead of minister’s visit
Frustrated by what they describe as persistent corruption, the petitioners have threatened to travel to wherever Minister Balaam is and present their complaints directly to him.
They also say they will camp in Alebtong for two days ahead of the minister’s expected visit to expose what they described as “the rot” in the district.
“We shall camp in Alebtong for two days ahead of Balaam’s visit and expose all the alleged rot in Alebtong District,” Mohammed said.
Capitation grants are government funds allocated to schools based on pupil enrolment to support instructional materials, co-curricular activities and school management.
The petitioners say a second part of their campaign, dubbed “Operation Expose the Corrupt in Alebtong,” is expected to follow.
Efforts to obtain a response from Minister Balaam Barugahara were unsuccessful by press time.
The Ankole Times will follow up with the minister and the Alebtong District authorities for their responses to the allegations.
