Budaka Officials Plead to Become State Witnesses in Corruption Probe

What the report says

Several Budaka District officials arrested in an anti-corruption operation have asked to become state witnesses, according to Uganda’s State Minister for Local Government, Justine Nameere. In a report published by Nile Post, Nameere said the officials submitted written requests to cooperate with investigators and provide information and evidence about an alleged syndicated corruption scheme.

The minister said the arrests followed a four-day operation in Budaka involving the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate, the Inspectorate of Government and other anti-corruption bodies under the government’s “Expose the Corrupt” campaign. At least five officials were reportedly detained last week, including the district health officer, district education officer, district engineer and the in-charge of Budaka Health Centre IV. The probe is said to cover possible wrongdoing in roads, health and education projects, including a health facility project valued at about Shs645 million.

Nameere said the inquiry has also identified a suspected “ghost position,” where an office was treated as filled even though no official was actually in post. She added that some officials admitted lapses in supervision and said they were used by others in the alleged scheme. No names of any additional suspects were provided, and the investigation is still working to establish the facts.

The case matters because it reflects broader concerns about how public funds for local infrastructure and services are managed. More generally, anti-corruption probes in Uganda often involve multiple oversight agencies and can lead to further disciplinary or criminal action if investigators confirm the allegations.