Bunyoro leaders have welcomed Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s anti-corruption campaign but warn that lasting results will require citizen participation, sustained funding and investigations that lead to prosecution.
Political leaders and analysts in Bunyoro Sub-region have called for citizens and local leaders to join the government’s anti-corruption campaign, warning that the gains could be short-lived if the fight depends largely on ministerial inspections.
The leaders welcomed Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara’s campaign, which has seen 74 public officials, including resident district commissioners (RDCs), their deputies and local government leaders, affected by interdictions, arrests or orders for investigations over alleged misconduct.
However, they said some district officials become more alert when they learn that the minister is visiting but revert to their usual working practices after he leaves.
The leaders argue that sustained public scrutiny and accountability are necessary to improve service delivery and ensure that public resources benefit communities.
Kiryandongo District Woman MP Jovia Katusiime said corruption had undermined local governments but that the minister’s campaign had awakened civil servants to their responsibilities.
She urged elected leaders across the region to take ownership of the fight, saying they could organise community meetings, commonly known as barazas, to hear public complaints and refer suspected wrongdoing to security agencies for investigation.
Katusiime, who coordinates the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in Bunyoro, attributed corruption partly to a lack of patriotism, arguing that citizens should put the country’s interests above personal gain.
She also cited allegations of people paying money to secure government jobs in Hoima and Kikuube districts, calling for investigations into both those demanding payments and those offering bribes.
She said recruitment should be based on merit rather than applicants’ ability to pay.
Dr James Byarugaba, a political analyst and PLU coordinator for Kagadi District, also commended Barugahara’s campaign but said corruption could not be eliminated without public participation.
Byarugaba argued that citizens have the power to demand accountability if they understand their rights and recognise how corruption affects access to essential services.
He urged communities to monitor government projects, inspect work being undertaken in their areas and demand accountability for public expenditure, including seeking bills of quantities for projects where appropriate.
He questioned why Ugandans remained largely passive despite estimates that the country loses about Shs10 trillion annually to corruption, although the figure requires independent verification.
Byarugaba said the campaign should be sustained and adequately funded by the government if it is to produce lasting results.
He also called for the drive to be extended to central government institutions, arguing that focusing on local governments alone would leave major parts of public administration outside the campaign.
He noted that local governments receive a relatively small share of the national budget and said accountability efforts should also target central government departments responsible for managing larger allocations.
Byarugaba further questioned the outcomes of arrests made during anti-corruption operations, urging investigative agencies, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the courts to ensure that allegations are properly investigated and cases pursued in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, Buhaguzi County MP Francis Kazini welcomed the campaign but cautioned the minister and security agencies against acting on unverified complaints.
Kazini said some reports against civil servants could be motivated by malice or false propaganda, urging authorities to establish the facts before taking action.
Former Hoima City West MP Dr Joseph Ruyonga said exposing corruption was necessary but that government should evaluate the campaign after the minister’s regional tours and establish mechanisms to sustain its impact.
By the end of Balaam’s tour of Bunyoro, 74 officials had reportedly been affected by various actions or orders for investigations over allegations of misconduct.
The leaders said the campaign’s long-term success would depend on sustained monitoring, credible investigations, accountability across all levels of government and greater involvement of citizens in protecting public resources.