The Minister for the Presidency and Woman Member of Parliament for Budiope West, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, has issued a strong warning to local government officials, declaring that corruption has become one of the biggest obstacles to Uganda’s development. Speaking during a meeting of local government leaders at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, she said the government is intensifying efforts to expose and eliminate corrupt practices in line with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s directive.
Hon. Babalanda said corruption robs ordinary Ugandans of essential services, including quality healthcare, education, roads, clean water and employment opportunities. She emphasized that every public official has a duty to protect taxpayers’ money, noting that the diversion of public resources steals hope from millions of citizens and slows the country’s progress toward social and economic transformation.
The Minister expressed concern over growing reports of collusion between some Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), saying such partnerships have enabled fraudulent payments, approval of incomplete government projects, manipulation of inspection reports and concealment of poor-quality work. She warned that while cooperation between the two offices is essential for service delivery, dishonest collaboration only fuels corruption and undermines public trust.
She revealed that the consequences of corruption are visible across the country, where newly constructed classrooms develop cracks before learners occupy them, health facilities remain unfinished despite full payment to contractors, roads deteriorate shortly after completion and public markets are abandoned before they are fully operational. Hon. Babalanda directed RDCs, District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) to submit truthful, evidence-based reports to the Presidency without fear or favour.
Turning to the education sector, the Minister condemned the inflation of enrolment figures through ghost learners under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programmes. She also criticized teachers who abandon their duty stations and illegally hire unqualified individuals to teach on their behalf while sharing government salaries, describing the practice as a betrayal of Uganda’s children and taxpayers.
In the health sector, Hon. Babalanda warned against the theft and diversion of government medicines, saying some health workers illegally sell drugs meant for public facilities or deliberately withhold treatment before referring patients to private clinics. She stressed that government medicines belong to the people of Uganda and cautioned those involved that investigations are being strengthened and anyone found culpable will face the law.
The Minister also challenged District Service Commissions to ensure fairness and transparency in recruitment, warning that public jobs must never be obtained through bribery, nepotism, favouritism or sexual exploitation. According to her, when merit is sacrificed, incompetence takes root, creating a cycle of poor service delivery and corruption that continues to undermine government institutions.
Hon. Babalanda applauded the Ministry of Local Government, the RDC institution and security agencies for ongoing inspection exercises that have exposed weaknesses in public administration. She also commended the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for supporting the national anti-corruption campaign.
Calling on political leaders, technical officers, security agencies and citizens to work together, she declared that corruption is an economic enemy that must be exposed, prevented and completely eliminated to accelerate Uganda’s national transformation.
