Dr. Ayub Mukisa: The Truth Is: The Government Has Been Sending Money. But Are Citizens Feeling It?

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion article by Dr. Ayub Mukisa, executive director of the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition, questioning whether money sent by Uganda’s central government to local governments is being reflected in improved public services. In the article dated 27 July 2026, Mukisa argues that many citizens continue to experience problems in areas such as schools, health facilities, roads and water despite large quarterly transfers to local authorities.

Mukisa says the issue is not whether funds are released, but whether they are used effectively and transparently. He cites a 2025 study by Dr. Julius Arinaitwe and Dr. Ariyo Gracious Kaazara on what it calls a “discipline deficit” in Uganda’s public sector, including ghost workers, misuse of public money, nepotism and weak adherence to procedures. He also refers generally to Auditor General reports and official sources as evidence that funds are disbursed, while some districts either return unused balances or face accounting challenges.

The article frames accountability as the key link between public spending and visible improvements in service delivery. Mukisa says independent verification in communities is important, and points to field activities by Hon. Balaam Barugahara and Justine Nameere as efforts that could help assess whether local governments are meeting their obligations.

As an opinion piece, the article does not present a new audit finding or specific district-level figures. Its significance lies in highlighting a recurring governance concern in Uganda: whether decentralised public financing is producing practical benefits for citizens and whether local accountability systems are strong enough to track results.