Babalanda says she will not shield corrupt RDCs as anti-corruption drive widens

What the report says

Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda has said she will not defend Resident District Commissioners and other local government officials accused of corruption, as Uganda’s anti-corruption drive expands. Nile Post reports that she made the remarks at a fundraising event for the construction of Ivukula Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nsinze Town Council, Namutumba District.

Babalanda said RDCs, RCCs, their deputies and assistants are expected to represent the President in districts, monitor government programmes, protect public resources and help ensure services reach citizens. She warned that officials who abuse their offices, seek fuel or bribes from residents, or collude to defraud government programmes would face disciplinary and criminal action. She also said her ministry has already held capacity-building sessions and cautioned officers against corrupt practices, but some had ignored the guidance.

The comments come amid a wider campaign by government to tackle abuse of public office in local administrations. The report cites recent action in Pallisa District, where more than 20 officials were interdicted after allegations including negligence, misuse of public resources and possible financial impropriety. It also mentions similar investigations in other districts, including Tororo, as part of the “Expose the Corrupt” campaign led by Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara. Babalanda said due process must still be followed, but insisted that corruption should be confronted immediately when discovered. She also used the event to encourage residents to join government wealth-creation programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme and the GROW Project.